MMDA Needs 300 New Traffic Enforcers

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is hiring 300 new traffic enforcers to help respond to the agency's growing responsibilities and needs.

In a message sent to the media on Wednesday, MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago said the hiring is to meet the increasing necessity of a larger workforce for the MMDA and because of vacant positions left by sacked corrupt personnel.

"Dagdag po talaga, marami din pong naalis na enforcer na corrupt o na-involve sa different cases so may mga vacancies po talaga (This is to augment our workforce, we have sacked many corrupt enforcers or those involved in different cases which created the vacancies)," Pialago said.

The MMDA currently has a total of 2,266 traffic enforcers--1,400 have permanent positions while the remaining 866 are either in casual, job order (JO), or OYSTER (Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery) contracts, based on a document sent by Pialago.

Aside from basic documentary requirements and at least two years of college education, the MMDA requires prospective personnel to be at least five feet and two inches for females, at least five feet and four inches for males, and not more than 35 years old.

The spokesperson clarified that the age requirement is due to the harsh conditions a traffic enforcer faces on a daily basis.

"Kasi baka sa age hindi na kayanin yung init, yung training--alam niyo naman enforcers (Because of age, they might not be able to withstand the heat, the training—as you know our enforcers are frequently) under the sun," Pialago said.

She added that the salary of their traffic enforcers starts at PHP8,000 per month and those interested may visit the MMDA office in Makati City to submit their applications.

On September 19, the MMDA lauded the move of the House of Representatives' minority bloc, which hopes for an increase in the agency’s proposed budget for 2020.

Pialago said the MMDA hopes to use the budget increase to increase the salaries of their JO personnel--which aside from receiving a meager monthly salary, have no other benefits such as a 13th-month pay or retirement benefits.