ILOILO City — Barangay officials and tanods in this city may soon be granted authority to enforce traffic laws and apprehend illegal parking violators as the city government explores a controversial plan to address worsening traffic congestion and the shortage of traffic enforcers.
The Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) is proposing the deputization of selected barangay officials and barangay tanods to assist in traffic management and anti-illegal parking operations across the city, subject to approval by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) and Mayor Raisa Treñas.
TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said the initiative aims to strengthen community-based traffic enforcement through closer coordination with barangays, especially as the city grapples with limited manpower on the ground.
Under the proposal, deputized personnel will undergo mandatory training and orientation to ensure proper implementation of traffic laws and ordinances before being allowed to assist in traffic regulation and enforcement activities within their respective barangays.
The proposal has yet to be formally submitted to the City Council but already, a local legislator has expressed concern over possible abuse, political implications, and enforcement accountability.
Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, chairperson of the SP committee on transportation, said he only learned about the proposal through media reports.
“So far, they have not yet submitted the proposal to us. In fact, I only heard about it through the media,” Cabaluna said in an interview.
He stressed that the proposal would undergo careful scrutiny once formally endorsed to the council.
“We will study it thoroughly and evaluate if it is really viable for the city because I already have many questions that need to be answered,” he added.
Cabaluna recalled that a previous proposal to deputize security guards in the Megaworld area failed to push through due to concerns over safeguards, consistency in enforcement, and accountability, leading the city to instead deploy regular traffic enforcers.
The councilor raised similar concerns regarding the current proposal involving barangay officials and tanods.
“What are the safeguards against abuse? Are they capable? Can we properly train them?” Cabaluna asked.
He also warned of possible political repercussions, especially with barangay elections approaching.
“There could be accusations of political bias. People might say only members of the opposing side are being apprehended, or vice versa, that some violators are not being apprehended because they are allies,” he explained.
Cabaluna further noted that deputization carries legal and administrative responsibilities for barangay personnel.
“If they fail to apprehend violators, they could also become liable for not performing their functions as deputized personnel,” he said.
The councilor also questioned whether barangay officials and tanods, who are already tasked with maintaining peace and order and handling community governance duties, can still effectively take on traffic management responsibilities.
“Even our barangay tanods already focus on peace and order. If we add traffic enforcement, we have to ask if they can still effectively handle the added responsibility,” he said.
Despite his reservations, Cabaluna acknowledged TTMO’s need for reinforcement and said the council remains open to hearing the rationale behind the proposal.
“I respect the executive department, especially TTMO, because they are the ones on the ground. If they believe they need reinforcement and more personnel to help with traffic enforcement, we will listen,” he said.
“But at first glance, there are still many things that need to be clarified and ensured before this can move forward,” he added./PN
