Close to 40 Coast Guard personnel will be deployed in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to augment the Interagency Council for Traffic (IACT).
A total of 39 personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard will be deployed starting January 27 to help man traffic along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and other key roads in the metropolis.
This, according to the Coast Guard, is not new as the agency has been deploying a portion of its workforce to help IACT.
"Marahil naiisip ninyo: Coast Guard kami, bakit kami magseserbisyo sa kalsada (Maybe you are wondering: We are Coast Guard but why are we deployed in roads)? Mind you, men in uniform work in all kinds of environment. We, at the armed services, are one being. There are a lot of challenges and temptations that you will face once you are deployed, but I am confident that you will overcome them," Assistant Secretary Manuel Gonzales, IACT chief, said.
The Coast Guard said their personnel will also be authorized to issue tickets to violators after undergoing seminar on road regulations and policies under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
"You will be trained and introduced to road regulations and policies. Sa oras na ma-deploy kayo, maraming mag-a-alok sa inyo ng pera (The moment you are deployed, many will try to bribe you). But I tell you, stay true to the value of integrity for this is a crucial obligation of every member of the Council," Gonzales said.
The Coast Guard men, who will be deployed, are part of the 463 recruits who recently completed the Basic Coast Guardsman Training Course at the PCG Regional Training Center in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental in October, 2020.