The ups and downs of enforcing traffic

STUCK in traffic inside your air-conditioned cars? Think of the traffic enforcers working under the sun to sort out the mess for you.

In Mandaue City, traffic enforcers not only endure heat and dust. They also get insults from hot-headed drivers, and even occasional punches from traffic violators.

Arnold Malig-on and Joeffel Varga have had their share of fistfights with violent drivers.

Malig-on, 39, had been punched by a cab driver, and Varga, 38, by a driver of a delivery van. Both drivers spent some time in jail for direct assault.

Malig-on and Varga, both fathers, have been with the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) for nine years.

Varga, who now supervises Team riders, said working as a traffic enforcer is doubly challenging in Mandaue City.

Lisud gyud diri. Gamay ra ang dan diri pero agianan sa tanan (It’s very difficult here. We have relatively narrow roads but all vehicles pass through here),” he said.

Risky job

Motorists and commuters going to Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and the northern towns have to traverse Mandaue City.

A traffic study conducted a few years back revealed that more than 370,000 trips pass through the city.

Managing traffic is a risky job.

In 2007, a truck ran over a colleague, killing him instantly on U.N. Ave., Malig-on said.

Another colleague had his head stitched after a jeepney conductor struck him with a steel tube in 2010.

Varga said drivers should keep their cool when they are apprehended. “Ang punto dili man nga abusado sila. Igo lang sila namo gi-edukar (They are not judged as abusive drivers. We only educate them),” he said.

Drivers of taxi and jeepneys are often the ones who disobey traffic signs and traffic rules, and get violent when apprehended, said Malig-on, who now works as a traffic lights and CCTV operator after seven years in the field.

To avoid a quarrel, Varga said traffic enforcers usually keep a distance from the traffic violator. This way, they won’t get attacked easily or hear bad remarks from the driver that can otherwise anger them.

Malig-on said some drivers belittle traffic enforcers’ role, saying the latter only worsen the situation because of incompetent handling of traffic.

Rarely appreciated

But these drivers are also quick to complain when they are stuck in traffic and no enforcer is in sight, he said.

He added that they are rarely appreciated for doing their job, and are often blamed for heavy traffic caused by road works being done by the National Government.

Traffic enforcers, he said, would get often yelled at while sorting out traffic snarls, but rarely would anyone thank them when traffic is smooth.

Malig-on and Varga said private car drivers are often the ones who insult traffic enforcers. “Kung makasuway lang sila, dili lalim among trabaho. Uwan, init, abog among kinaon, apil pa kasaba (If they tried our job, they would know it’s not easy. We are exposed to the rain, heat and dust, and scolding, too),” Varga said.

While they often deal with bad-mannered drivers, Vargas said there are also nice and respectful ones.

Vargas recalled drivers who trembled in fear after getting apprehended. He said he would sometimes let go of drivers without issuing violation tickets because of their sincere apologies and obvious lack of knowledge of certain traffic rules.

Sunod-sunuron ka og pasalamat (They would thank you profusely),” he said.

Some drivers would also hand them water or food, Varga said.

While some violators get angry or calmly accept citation tickets, others tempt traffic enforcers with money.

Prohibited

Varga said Team is strict about bribery or extortion. Committing this offense can cost a traffic enforcer’s job.

Two years ago, two Team riders lost their jobs after extorting money from a foreigner, who posted a video of his encounter with them on the Internet.

Team personnel work in eight-hour shifts. Some report to duty from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and others work from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. A handful of them patrol the streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Sometimes, traffic enforcers have to extend their work hours, especially during major events.

For the 51st International Eucharistic Congress later this month, Varga and Malig-on expect longer hours of work.

One of the activities before the IEC congress is the Youth Day, which the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu will host.

Part of the activity is a walk by thousands of participants from Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City to Mandani Bay in Mandaue City.

Sense of fulfillment

Malig-on and Varga said they don’t mind the long hours of work, as they feel a sense of fulfillment serving the public.

Varga, who dropped out of college during his second year as a computer science student, left his job as a worker in a canning factory to work as a traffic enforcer in 2007.

Malig-on, who took civil engineering in college but stopped in his third year, worked as a machine operator in a plastic factory before becoming a traffic enforcer, also in 2007.

Varga, who has two children, said he sees himself working for Team until retirement, but that it depends on his health. He has been admitted to hospital twice for hypertension.

Malig-on, too, said he may work for Team until retirement, even though the job is not financially rewarding. He said he and his wife have enough to support their three children, age 19, 15 and nine.

Team personnel take only one day off every week.

On Sundays, Malig-on said he spends time with his family by going to church.

Varga, who also rests every Sunday, said he usually sleeps all day, knowing that another six days of hard work are ahead of him. “

Pahuway gyud og insakto (I have to take good rest),” he said.

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