Traffic enforcers have a thankless job: enforcing discipline and safety on the roads at all times of the day and night, regardless of the weather.
Due to the nature of their jobs, traffic enforcers are often most exposed to the elements, having to stand in the middle of roads in the middle of the day, rain or shine.
And with the possibility of long dry spells and intense head due to the Very Strong El Niño phenomenon, authorities in Laguna province are now trying to ensure the welfare and safety of their traffic enforcers amid these extreme conditions.
Laguna Traffic Management Office (LTMO) head Adiel de Torres said traffic enforcers undergo physical examinations before deployment to determine whether they are physically fit to perform their duties.
Emergency response teams for traffic enforcers and other road users are also being deployed to assist in addressing health, safety, and peace and order concerns.
“We have already lost three traffic enforcers this year because of old age. Inatake po sa puso, na-highblood, at iyon pong nasagasaan po sa gitna ng kalsada. We’re looking at all those interventions po and reviewing, also, ano po ‘yung mga physical [health], their ages, at ‘yong conditions po nila to be on the road.” De Torres told local media in an interview.
The LTMO chief said measures are already in place to strengthen the health and wellness programs for traffic personnel, including regular health checks using ambulances to monitor their blood pressure and provide them with vitamins.
“We really have health and wellness programs po sa kanila. The LTMO has two teams po ng (ERT) Emergency Response Teams. We have nurses there. Ang ginagawa po natin diyan is to ensure that all our personnel are taken care of. Every week po umiikot po ang ating ambulansya sa all our deployments sa buong Laguna,” De Torres stated.
He also highlighted the need to consider replacing the uniforms of traffic enforcers with lighter and more comfortable ones that would allow them to work more safely amid extreme heat.
“Ngayon pong deployment natin, we always like to ensure that they have proper hydration, meron pong water ‘yung mga tao natin sa kalsada. [Among] the things we are doing also is reviewing po ‘yong kanilang uniporme, pina-rereview ko po, ‘yung maging lighter ‘yung kanilang mga uniforms para ‘di naman po sobrang init, makapag-adjust po sa sobrang init,” De Torres explained.
Currently, about half of the LTMO traffic enforcers on duty are between 50 and 60 years old, making the implementation of these measures even more important, particularly in consideration of their age and health conditions.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kanila na kahit sa ganoong edad ay gusto pa rin nilang magserbisyo at maglingkod, pero siyempre may age factors, at mayroong challenges sa kanilang health lalo na kapag mainit.”
De Torres said the LTMO also continues to review the health and physical condition of its personnel to ensure that they are fit for road deployment and to minimize the risk of health-related incidents and other accidents.
(With report from PIA/OpinYon News Team)
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