CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – With the influx of tourists this Christmas, Brig. Gen. Mafelino Bazar, director of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, has ordered the deployment of more policemen to manage traffic in the region, particularly in Baguio City.
Bazar told provincial police directors and the Baguio City Police Office to help local government units manage traffic.
"Let's help them (LGUs) with their traffic management, it would be better if we have police and traffic enforcers at junctions and crossings so that someone can manage the traffic," Bazar said.
Bazar also ordered alternate routes and nearby parking areas manned by police officers to avoid traffic jams on main highways and roads.
He is eyeing police officers rendering office duties in the regional headquarters here as additional force manning traffic during rush hour.
"Our police officers here at the regional headquarters can be deployed there during rush hour, they can be on duty for a few hours, then they can return to the office if there is work to be done."
Bazar suggested the creation of proper signages and the designation of loading and unloading areas for vehicles for proper traffic flow and road safety.
"Identify the loading and unloading areas and signboards to see how many will behave, especially in the BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay) areas, we will really gridlock if we let it go unaddressed."
Police officers were reminded to be courteous while strictly enforcing local traffic ordinances.