MMDA: Aquino's 'leadership by example' vs wangwang paying off

The "leadership by example" of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III in not using “wangwang" (sirens and blinkers) is paying off as traffic enforcers are now noticing less cases of road abuse involving the gadgets.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Roberto Nacianceno said Monday motorists now follow the law while violators have run out of "excuses."

"Ang napapansin namin di namin kailangan maghuli. Ang daming compliance, at walang sasakyang sumisingit sa traffic sa wangwang at counterflow (We noticed we did not have to go after violators that much. Now very few vehicles try to use sirens and go against the flow
of traffic)," Nacianceno said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He said traffic enforcers can now confront abusive motorists who flash calling cards or drop names of powerful figures, and tell them Aquino himself is following traffic rules.

"Napakagaling at napagaan ang aming trabaho (Aquino's leadership by example is good and he made our work so much lighter)," he said.

Aquino, in his inaugural speech on June 30, called the wang-wang a symbol of inequality and rejected using it.

However, he has been known to have arrived late at some public engagements due to his insistence to obey traffic rules and refusal to use wangwang.

Meanwhile, Nacianceno said he will meet with concerned transport groups this week to take up measures against colorum public utility vehicles, including buses and jeeps.

Colorum refers to a private vehicle operated for public utility purposes without a valid permit, provisional authority, or franchise.

Aside from the issue of colorum vehicles, Nacianceno says he also hopes to discuss with transport groups the possible revival of the number coding scheme, which restricts buses from plying their routes on certain days, depending on their plate numbers.

Source: GmaNews