MMDA Chief to Congress: 'Increase Hazard Pay for Traffic Enforcers'

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim is asking the House of Representatives to increase the monthly hazard pay of traffic enforcers to P6,000. Lim hopes that the additional incentive will not only help the enforcers but also lessen the corruption that's happening among their ranks.

The current salary of an entry-level traffic enforcer is around P11,000 per month for regular employees, and around P6,000 to P8,000 for those hired on a contractual basis.

A monthly income of P11,000 means that the daily income of an MMDA enforcer is estimated at around P500. According to Data bank IBON, a family of five needs to set aside at least P439 just to eat healthy and nutritious food daily. And that doesn't include other necessities such as electricity, water, and clothing. In total, they need at least P1,088 to meet all their basic expenses daily--half of what a typical MMDA traffic enforcer earns in a day.

"How can you motivate people if their stomachs are grumbling?" asked Lim.

Meanwhile, Rep. Winnie Castelo, who also heads the Metro Manila Development Committee, confirmed their plans to increase MMDA's budget via the General Appropriations Act.

Chairman Lim also asked the Department of Budget Management to increase MMDA's budget to P6 billion to make the additional incentive possible.

Hazard Pay Not a New Proposal

This is not the first time that a hazard pay for traffic aides was proposed to the Congress.

In 2013, 2nd District of Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo submitted a proposal to give traffic enforcers a hazard pay and accident insurance coverage. And in 2014, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and former Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez also proposed a hazard pay of P2,000 to MMDA traffic enforcers and street sweepers. Both proposed bills remain pending even until now.