PNP wants traffic academy set up to standardize law enforcement

MANILA, Philippines – The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) proposed on Friday the creation of a Traffic Enforcement Academy in Metro Manila to ensure proper implementation of traffic laws. Well-trained enforcers will lessen confusion between them and motorists, according to Superintendent Edwin Butacan, HPG spokesman. "The usual complaint is that most of the traffic enforcers, particularly the local traffic enforcers, do not actually know what to write on the TVR [traffic violation receipt] so we want to get rid of this and we believe that the establishment of the Academy will address this specific problem," Butacan said. An academy will also pave the way for a single-ticketing system in Metro Manila, as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has been pushing for, according to Senior Superintendent Dennis Siervo, chief of the HPG-National Capital Region. The proposed academy will teach enforcers a single interpretation of the laws to support the single-ticketing scheme. At present, Siervo said almost every town and city in Metro Manila has its own interpretation and implementation of traffic laws, leading to confusion among motorists and enforcers. "There are cases wherein traffic enforcers would confiscate the driver's license of a motorist over a traffic violation when that shouldn't be the case. He should only be issued a ticket," Siervo said. "So on the part of the PNP, we want to have uniformity in the enforcement of the law." Butacan related how the multiple ticketing scheme has been a burden to motorists: You get cited for a violation in one place and your license is confiscated. Then you reach another place and get cited for another violation. The enforcer will get your first ticket and issue a new one. "That's why our people are confused," Butacan said. Butacan said they are leaving it to the proper authorities, particularly the National Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (NALECC) to act on their proposal, including the creation of the implementing guidelines should it be approved. "Initially, our goal is to subject all traffic enforcers in Metro Manila because and once it proves to be successful, perhaps we can start discussing on making it nationwide," he said. But at this early, Butacan said the main hindrance on their proposal is the refusal of some Metro Manila mayors on single-ticketing scheme. "The main issue is revenue," he said. "Local governments get quite a big revenue from traffic violations. But we are confident that that this will succeed. It's after all for the good of everyone." - GMANews.TV