Additional financial aid for Cebu City traffic aides set

Local

FOR the men and women in neon vests braving Cebu City’s chaotic streets, a little more financial relief is on the way.

Barangay Traffic Aides (BaTA) will soon receive an additional P3,000 in monthly financial assistance after the City Council approved an ordinance supporting the move.

Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, who authored the measure, said the ordinance recognizes the hard work of barangay enforcers in keeping traffic under control.

He noted that better financial support could help them perform their duties more effectively, especially with the city's growing congestion problems.

Under the ordinance, barangay traffic aides must be officially appointed by their barangay captains and deputized by the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) to qualify for the aid.

They must also log at least 20 hours of traffic enforcement work per week, with daily time records approved by their barangay captains.

Barangay captains will be responsible for submitting monthly performance reports to the CCTO, which will review aides who fail to meet the required hours.

Violations will carry penalties, this include a first offense results in a written warning, a second leads to a one-month suspension, and a third means permanent disqualification from BaTA.

To implement the ordinance, the CCTO and the Barangay Affairs Office must finalize its rules within 30 days.

The city government will allocate funds for the aid, but the total compensation for barangay traffic aides, including this allowance, must not exceed the minimum salary for Salary Grade 1 as set by law.

The ordinance takes effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Cebu City.(MyTVCebu)