LTO Deploys Lady Traffic Enforcers

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) officially deployed its lady traffic enforcers on Monday.

During Monday's flag ceremony, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres gave the green light to at least 20 lady traffic enforcers from the LTO Central Office to roam the busy streets of Metro Manila to monitor traffic and arrest violators.

Some 400 other lady traffic enforcers nationwide will work with their male counterparts from the Traffic Enforcement Division of regional LTOs in ensuring order of traffic flow and safety of motorists.

Torres assured the public that all the lady traffic officers underwent extensive training in determining various traffic violations and in identifying colorum (illegal) vehicles or those public transport units plying out of their designated routes.

“We are hopeful that the presence of our pretty lady enforcers on the street would help prevent usual altercations that often lead to physical clash between hot- headed drivers and male traffic enforcers," said Torres, who recalled that she was once a traffic enforcer in Tarlac.

Although the LTO lady traffic enforcers will take an active role in directing traffic and apprehending traffic violators like their male counterparts, they will don a different set of uniform for easy identification on the road.

Torres said the lady traffic enforcers will don white attire but they had to wear yellow long-sleeved shirts paired with black maong pants and bullcap at the launching yesterday as their uniforms were not completed on time. "We understand women's sensitivity so we designed a uniform that will protect them from the polluted environment and at the same time not limit their physical activities," she said.

Torres claimed that she has concern for the public in mind in deploying lady traffic enforcers, noting that apprehended traffic violators usually deal calmly with women enforcers than with men. “We are optimistic that the deployment of these lady enforcers should serve as a clear signal to the public of our sincere desire of not only solving perennial traffic problems but also one of our first steps to initiate reforms within the agency.”

Kris Bayos, Manila Bulletin