It’s official! Starting today, the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) will be the official enforcement arm of Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to implement traffic rules and regulations within Metro Manila, in full support of the operations of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (i-ACT).

Under the signed memorandum, PNP-HPG will deploy 300 uniformed personnel (25 Police Commissioned Officers and 275 Police Non-Commissioned Officers) for the National Capital Region and Regional Units that will provide logistical mobility support to strengthen the enforcement operations of i-ACT.

In a press statement, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, said, “Sabi ng ating Pangulo, ‘give the Filipino a comfortable life.’ Nandito tayo ngayon sapagkat sa ating panunumpa sa lengguwahe ng ating Pangulo, tayo ay magsisilbi sa Pilipino upang sa ganoon, ang kapwa Pilipino ay magkaroon ng comfortable life. And we will inculcate that comfortable life through enforcement and discipline on the road, and through proper compliance of the law.”

The transportation chief added that the partnership between the DOTr and the PNP-HPG was borne by the idea of former HPG Chief and current LTFRB Board Member Antonio Gardiola.

“Nung bago pa si General Gardiola, wala pang dalawang araw, sabi ko sa kanya, ‘General Gardiola, gusto ko ituloy mo ang partnership between PNP and the Department of Transportation. Gusto ko, paigtingin mo at bigyan ng lakas ‘yung tinatawag na enforcement.’ In barely two weeks, tinawagan ko si Secretary Año, sabi ko, ‘kailangan ko kayo,” Tugade explained.

Meantime, PNP-HPG shall also coordinate with the DOTr and its attached agencies, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), in ensuring the effective implementation of the agreement.

Aside from its personnel, PNP-HPG will be committing its logistical resources consisting of 24 mobile cars and 82 motorcycle units.