ILOILO City – Malingering traffic aides will be paying a heavy price – losing their jobs. Mayor Jerry Treñas issued them a final warning.
The city’s chief executive apparently has enough of the complaints against traffic aides.
“I am making this last warning. Traffic aides caught smoking, texting or gossiping while on duty will immediately be dismissed from the service,” said Treñas yesterday.
The city government has 365 traffic personnel all under the supervision of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO). Some of them are contractuals.
PSTMO head Jeck Conlu said the mayor’s order will be strictly enforced.
“Yes, strong statement ina halin kay mayor. Buot silingon dapat mag-comply ang aton mga personnel,” he said.
Conlu acknowledged there are still a motley of traffic aides not taking their job seriously.
“Mga dungol. Kon kaisa nagapabaya sa ila trabaho,” he lamented.
Following the “direct order” from Treñas, Conlu said he again reminded traffic aides to work with earnest.
Remiss traffic aides “automatic naton nga penahan,” he said.
The PSTMO chief revealed that Mayor Treñas has been personally observing the performance of traffic aides.
“Kita ang itsura sang syudad kay ara kita sa dalan halin sa aga asta mag gab-i. Gusto naton maka-deliver better services sa motorists and commuters,” said Conlu.
PSTMO thus has area supervisors checking how traffic aides are doing in the districts of Lapuz, La Paz, Molo, Mandurriao, Jaro, Arevalo, and the City Proper, he added.
Conlu also urged the public to call the PSTMO’s attention should they spot traffic aides not doing their job.
Take photos of these traffic aides and submit these to the PSTMO, he said.
Yesterday was not the first time Mayor Treñas called traffic aides out. He did so in January. Information reached him that some traffic aides were not actively managing the traffic but merely apprehending traffic violators.
“I want all traffic aides on the streets help manage the traffic and not only find fault, or they would be suspended for two weeks,” Treñas warned then.
He also called out traffic aides seeking shelter under trees or sheds instead of directing the flow of vehicles.
“Similar offenses will merit dismissal from the service,” said Treñas.
October last year, Treñas warned traffic aides following complaints of alleged corruption.
“The city government does not tolerate wrongdoing but (there must be a) complaint. I am ready to terminate any traffic aide found guilty of corruption,” he said, adding that, “These traffic aides will be made to explain and dismissed from the service.”
Conlu said traffic aides’ working hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m./PN
