Senate Committee on Public Services Chairperson Senator Raffy Tulfo visited the MMDA Communications and Command Center in Pasig City which monitors the traffic in major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.
Tulfo was welcomed by MMDA Chairman Romando Artes and Swift Traffic Action Group (STAG) Head Edison Nebrija.
The legislator said he initially noticed the widely advanced and spacious facility.
The command center features huge monitors which shows live feed from CCTV Cameras installed in critical areas and major infrastructures in Metro Manila as well as body-worn cameras (BWC) actively used on the ground by their traffic enforcers on-duty.
In order to further demonstrate to the lawmaker how their BWCs work, Nebrija instructed enforcers on-duty through a two-way radio to execute an on-the-spot anti-illegal parking operation in 20th Avenue, Quezon City.
In the said live feed, the senator said it can be noticed that sounds from the location of the enforcers may be heard especially conversations between them and the violators – a crucial thing that strengthens evidence against those being apprehended.
Artes shared that whenever such apprehensions are levied, enforcers nowadays usually issue only notices of violation which are then subject for review in the Command Center. From there, digital tickets are issued which can be paid through online payment platforms or accredited bayad centers to lessen “kotongs” and other corrupt practices.
“These measures ensure transparency most especially that their BWCs automatically record the moment it is released from its docking station.”
“Artes said that these measures ensure transparency most especially that their BWCs automatically records the moment it is released from its docking station and cannot be switched off until it is redocked,” Tulfo noted.
When asked on the cost of BWCs per unit, Artes said that each unit costs only around P68,000 and roughly P300,000 each if it includes back-end monitoring and a two-year sim card subscription.
At this point, Tulfo cannot help but to compare the said price in its huge difference against the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)’s costly BWCs which costs P897,000 per unit together with its said back-end systems.
Tulfo and Artes also tackled the need for hazard pay of MMDA enforcers and street sweepers who are on the ground during the scorching heat of the sun and are exposed to harmful pollutants which may cause various health problems to them. Currently, they’re not covered by the Hazard Pay Law.
Due to the lack of plantilla positions of their agency, Tulfo found out that more MMDA enforcers and street sweepers remain job order and casual employees despite serving for long years.
“I am committed to fight for their budget in the upcoming Senate budget deliberations to help them open up regular positions for JO and casual employees.”
He promised to push to amend the Hazard Pay Law to include MMDA traffic enforcers and street sweepers.
Tulfo also committed to fight for their budget in the upcoming Senate budget deliberations to help them open up regular positions for JO and casual employees.
In the end, he praised and expressed admiration to the MMDA leadership upon learning they employ PWDs from the deaf and mute community to work for their command center.
