THE City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) apprehended only 5,931 jaywalkers for the first five months of the year, a decline from last year's 7,431 individuals during the same period.
CTTMO head Dionisio Abude said the data "might look impressive" but cited two factors for its reduction.
One is that Dabawenyos might already be disciplined in crossing at the right pedestrian lanes since CTTMO intensified its apprehension against jaywalkers in November 2017.
However, Abude also said that some people would still break the law when there are no traffic enforcers deployed in the vicinity, which is a result of inadequate manpower.
He said the lack of manpower in CTTMO continues to be a struggle to enforce all traffic rules implemented in the city.
At present, the CTTMO has 700 traffic personnel deployed in all intersections and major streets.
"Pwede ni tungod sa kadaghan natong mga activities nga gipahigayon since January this year wherein sagunson atong mga special activities, atong mga enforcers nga nakadeploy sa mga intersections kay atong gipang-pull out para i-assign sa mga venues (The decline could also be caused by the special activities conducted here since January this year, since our enforcers assigned in the intersections were pulled out to man the venues)," he told SunStar Davao.
Among these special activities conducted recently in the city are major sports events such as the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) 2019, Ironman 70.3 Davao, and the 2019 Palarong Pambansa.
Abude also admitted that requesting for additional manpower would require further deliberations at the City Mayor's Office.
"As to requesting additional personnel, di ko basta-basta maka-request kay amo pang ginatan-aw asa nga part or intersection diria sa siyudad ang wala nakadeploy na personnel. So amo na i-compile ang needed numbers (As to requesting additional personnel, we cannot just add personnel right away because we are still going to determine which areas or intersections in the city that do not have enough traffic enforcers. We have to compile the needed numbers before making any request)," Abude said.
He said his office is strategizing its enforcement to ensure that all Dabawenyos -- drivers and pedestrians -- are abiding with the street ordinances.
Meanwhile, a total of 3,516 jaywalkers have already settled their fines, while 2,415 individuals have still yet to comply. Sanctioned jaywalkers are to settle their fines at the City Treasurer's Office (CTO) at the City Council.
During the State of the City Address of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio last October 2018, she said the City Government collected a total of P16.8 million from 20,740 jaywalkers and other traffic violators from January to June 2018.