Low Morale’ Over Death Of A Traffic Enforcer Killed By Reckless Korean Driver

[Medic Mike]

It’s a tough time for the traffic department of Cebu city after a female enforcer was killed by the impact of a speeding van driven by a Korean in the Banilad-Talamban corridor last week.

“Right now the morale of our people is very low,” said Raffy Yap, executive director of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom).

“Barato ra di ay kaayo nag kinabuhi. Sa P30, 000 ra di ay maka bail na ka. But still they wake up every morning to do their jobs,” he told Cebu Daily News.
(Life is cheap. With P30,000 one can avail of bail)

The Korean woman driver, Sun Kyung Heo, is out on bail on a charge of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide.

At the vigil wake of traffic enforcer Maria Theresa Bascones yesterday afternoon,  only two women and two children occupied the air-conditioned chapel in St. Peter Memorial Chapel in Imus Street.

Bascones, 38, was single, and had worked in Citom for 12 years.

Her picture rested on a white casket covered with a Philippine flag.

“Maayo man na si auntie. Motabang man na siya sa ubang tawo,” said one of her nieces, a girl with a ponytail under 10 years old.

(Auntie was a good person. She would help other people.)

Bascones was manning heavy traffic near a U-turn slot outside Gaisano Country Mall on Tuesday when the accident occurred about 6 p.m.

The Korean driver was exiting the mall and turned left to get on Governor Cuenco Avenue.

“It happened at a peak hour when traffic should have been slow.  We (traffic enforcers) do as much as we can to reduce accidents in the city but there is a callous disregard shown for our personnel,” said Yap.

Flower stands from the “Citom family” and government offices accompany the vigil wake of traffic enforcer Maria Teresa Bascones, who was hit by a van driven by a Korean woman along the busy Ban-Tal corridor. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

 

Yap said he becomes emotional talking about this death because he was the one who tapped Bascones to work as a traffic aide after she served as a parking aid for the last 10 to 12 years.

For being killed in the line of duty, there’s no extra compensation other than a standard P10,000 burial assistance from the city government.

Citom board chairman Ruben Almendras earlier said Citom employment could be offered to a qualified member of Bascones family.

Yap clarified that her death would not stop Citom enforcers from doing their job or the city from enforcing a month-old emergency policy of Mayor Michael Rama to enforce “no left turn” in traffic-clogged Banilad-Talamban corridor in north Cebu City.

The bulk of Citom’s close to 200 traffic enforcers  have been shifted to the Ban-Tal corridor since July 1.

“Policy implementation and morale are two different issues,”  said Yap.

As a result of the accident,  Mayor Rama instructed Citom to prohibit vehicles along Governor Cuenco Avenue from turning left to enter Country Mall.

They will enforce this until the mayor returns from his US trip next month.

Bascones was the second Citom enforcer who died in the line of duty in two years.

Traffic enforcer Armando Abdon Daligdig, 47, was gunned down while directing vehicles on the same road, Governor Cuenco Avenue in barangay Banilad about 7:20 a.m. on June 6, 2013.

A murder complaint was filed in court against ex-policeman Geoffrey Borinaga who was identified as the gunman.

The two had a previous confrontation, when the Citom enforcer stopped Borinaga for a traffic violation.

Yap said the work of a traffic enforcer is a thankless and risky job.

They endure the heat and the rain. They absorb the anger and insults of motorists who are caught in traffic jams.

“It’s all part of the risks of the job but we always tell our personnel that no matter what happens they should continue to work and remain courteous,” he said.

SALARY, NO HAZARD PAY
Traffic aides are paid at least P10, 401 to P11,000 per month and have standard government benefits like GSIS, Philhealth, and Pag-ibig coverage, according to Dominic Diño, head of the city’s Human Resources and Development Office. They also receive a P5,000 annual clothing allowance and bonus of one month’s salary.

The city  provides burial assistance of at least P10, 000 or more depending on the mayor’s discretion.

“We don’t give hazard pay. That’s not allowed by the Department of Budget and Management,” Diño told CDN.

City Hall is still processing the P10,000 burial claim for Bascones.

It’s not clear who booked the vigil wake for her at St. Peter’s, a private mortuary not covered by City Hall benefits.

It’s possible the Korean national, whose lawyer earlier promised to extend “assistance” to the victim, is shouldering the expenses.

The city legal office will represent Bascones’ family in the hearings of the criminal case against the Korean. But if the victim’s family later softens and withdraws interest in the legal proceedings, the charges will be eventually dismissed./ With correspondent Michelle Joy Padayhag

 

 

http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/36554/low-morale-over-death-of-a-traffic-enforcer-killed-by-reckless-korean-driver

 

 

Very sad. My guys said she never had a chance. However, I don't know how many times I have lectured the Traffic Enforcers about the importance of wearing High Vis vests, but still hardly any of them wear them.

Edited July 20, 2014 by Medic Mike

[Methersgate]

A nation where a policeman shoots and kills a traffic enforcer because the traffic enforcer pulled him over on a previous occasion is not, to my mind, the safest place to live.

 

A very salutary warning.

[Jollygoodfellow]

As Mike said, I find it strange that almost no one wears a high vis vest even at night. Accident waiting to happen so if they don't learn from these things then nothing ever changes. 

[Medic Mike]

As Mike said, I find it strange that almost no one wears a high vis vest even at night. Accident waiting to happen so if they don't learn from these things then nothing ever changes. 

Even my guys, I have to stay on them all the time to wear High Vis when attending MVAs.

[Dave Hounddriver]

They all use whistles, but in an S.U.V. with windows up and aircon and tunes on, I doubt the Korean woman heard anything.

[Medic Mike]

They all use whistles, but in an S.U.V. with windows up and aircon and tunes on, I doubt the Korean woman heard anything.

Yep I agree 100 percent. My most dangerous part of my day is going to work and coming home from work trying to cross Gov. Cuenco Avenue. :1 (103):

[Americano]

Most Filipinos do not seem to recognize danger.  I see them all the time riding on a pickup truck tailgate not realizing what will happen if the gate opens or if the driver has to slam on the brakes, people riding on top of buses and large trucks, over 95% with no motorcycle helmet and wearing flip flops and shorts, driving at night with no lights, passing on the right side, not slowing down for anything, watching someone welding not realizing it can damage their eyes, etc. etc. Not wearing a high visibility vest is minor compared to some dangerous things that Filipinos do every day but it may have cost her life.

 

My question is why can't Filipinos recognize or sense danger?  Is it from lack of proper education or lack of intelligence?

Edited July 20, 2014 by Americano

[Medic Mike]

Most Filipinos do not seem to recognize danger.  I see them all the time riding on a pickup truck tailgate not realizing what will happen if the gate opens or if the driver has to slam on the brakes, people riding on top of buses and large trucks, over 95% with no motorcycle helmet and wearing flip flops and shorts, driving at night with no lights, passing on the right side, not slowing down for anything, watching someone welding not realizing it can damage their eyes, etc. etc. Not wearing a high visibility vest is minor compared to some dangerous things that Filipinos do every day but it may have cost her life.

 

May question is why can't Filipinos recognize or sense danger?  Is it from lack of proper education or lack of intelligence?

I guess it will always be good job security for EMS services in the country. :unsure:

[Call me bubba]

Traffic Enforcers about the importance of wearing High Vis vests, but still hardly any of them wear them.

 

I too, notice that few ,very few ever wear the "visibility"vest. whats the cost?150p?250?

could it be that a serving of rice or a bottle of beer is more important than 1's own safety,

and the agency  that employ these workers really dont have a concern for its 'valued"workers 

 

,

 

May question is why can't Filipinos recognize or sense danger? Is it from lack of proper education or lack of intelligence?

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

 

 

if anyone can answer that, it would help me understand this country and its people much more

 

 

 

  Is it from lack  of intelligence?

perhaps the lack of iodine salt (being deficient )in 1's diet is the cause.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodine_deficiency

... Thus iodine deficiency, as the single greatest preventable cause of mental retardation, is an important public-health problem

 

 

 

here is a photo of 1 lady who proudly wears her safety vest

Edited July 20, 2014 by Pittman apartments Sgn

[Americano]

Hey, that vest will make the traffic slow down. They may not look where they are going but at least they will slow down.  :)