DAVAO CITY—The first batch of 11 Philippine Coast Guard personnel has been formally deputized as traffic enforcers and will work in tandem with the Land Transportation Office-XI in implementing traffic rules and regulations.
The Coast Guard personnel along with 11 personnel from the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board were deputized during ceremonies held on Friday (July 12) at the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) headquarters in Sasa, Davao City. They will now be part of the DOTr’s (Department of Transportation) Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) in Region-XI.
According to Land Transportation Office-XI Regional Director Eleanor Calderon the personnel underwent orientation on traffic-related laws and regulations and a three-week on-the-job training.
“Hindi lang batas ang tinuro namin, tinuruan rin namin sila paano manghuli, the protocols in traffic apprehensions lahat ng obligations ng bawat enforcer,” Calderon said.
(It is not just the laws that have taught them, we also taught how to apprehend, the protocols in traffic apprehended, all the obligations of each enforcer)
“We cannot afford na magkamali sila sa panghuli kaya bago sila pinakawalan alam na nila ang batas” she added.
(We cannot afford that they commit mistakes in apprehension that is why before they are deployed they are already knowledgeable of the rules)
The deputized PCG traffic enforcers are clothed with full authority to enforce all existing traffic rules and regulations.
The deputation of PCG personnel will last for a year and will greatly augment the number of traffic enforcers in the region for the DOTr to effectively and efficiently provide traffic law enforcement and promote safety and order on the road.
Currently, the LTO-XI has 30 enforcers deployed across the region tasked to implement traffic rules and regulations.
According to the commander of CGDSEM Commodore Rejard Marfe the deputation of their personnel into the SAICT is a significant milestone in the efforts of the DOTr to enhance the safety, security, and efficiency of the region’s transportation system.
“The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao is truly humbled to be chosen as the first expansion area outside Metro Manila, for this partnership we commit to perform with our utmost dedication to duty, courage, and professionalism to ensure the success of this program in Davao Region,” Commodore Marfe said.
LTFRB Nonito Llanos said that the deputation of the Coast Guard and LTFRB personnel and the formation of the SAICT in the region is the realization of their request for a team to be created within the Department of Transportation.
“We have credible individuals who can act in providing CASA…Comfortable, Accessible, Secure, and Affordable private transportation. Let us take note that this (CASA) is the byword of our Secretary (DOTr Secretary Antonio Bautista) and the only way to provide this to the riding public is to create this kind of team,” Llanos said. (RGA/PIA11)
