By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
Aside from battling crimes within its city borders, Pasig City Police (PCP) was also asked to help the city government in managing traffic in the city.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto
(KEVIN TRISTAN ESPIRITU / MANILA BULLETIN)
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said he has asked Police Col. Moises Villaceran, the newly installed city police chief, for their assistance in directing traffic, particularly on the city’s intersections.
“Una naming pinapakiusap sa kanya ay yung tulong habang nagau-augment pa kami sa TPMO (Traffic and Parking Management Office) or blue boys ,” Sotto said Monday.
“Himihingi kami ng tulong para manduhan yung mga intersections (We asked for his assistance to direct traffic along the city’s intersections),” he added.
Aside from that, Sotto told the Manila Bulletin that he has also asked for the support of the city police in the clearing operations of the local government.
Villaceran replaced Police Col. Rizalito Gapas last week as acting city police chief.
The new city police chief earlier vowed to focus their battle on crimes against property, riding-in-tandem, and illegal drugs. He considered his new assignment as a challenge.
“The problems in Pasig are primarily crimes against property, akyat bahay, robbery hold-up, riding in tandem and motorcycle napping. We will focus on that,” Villaceran said.
“Second is the illegal drugs campaign of the national government,” he added.
Sotto, on the other hand, earlier lamented that the volume of vehicles along major and inner roads in the city has “greatly increased” due to the recent efforts of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The MMDA recently conducted the dry run of its provincial bus ban in a bid to ease traffic congestion along EDSA. The agency also strictly enforced its yellow-lane policy on all buses plying along Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare.