MORE NEWS, DAGUPAN CITY

Dancing traffic enforcers: New tack in solving traffic
BY JENNELYN MONDEJAR

DAGUPAN CITY -- If Cebu City has its famous dancing inmates, this city also launched Monday night Dec. 17 its dancing traffic enforcers, to give cheers to motorists stranded in traffic jam this holiday season and enjoy their stay here.

Public Order and Safety Office ttraffic enforcers Cassius Clay Alcaide, Vladimir Juliano and Gerard Villamil, all in their 30s and 40s, vowed Dagupenos and visitors with their rhythm, grace and choreography simultaneous with their traffic management skills as they dance their way in untangling traffic jam in three heavily congested traffic areas here.

POSO chief Robert Erfe-Mejia said these three men, who passed the audition composed of about 50 field enforcers, including women, display their dancing skills with music accompaniment right in the middle of road intersections, a full dance of about 15 minutes each with the sound of modern dance and ballroom dancing.

They also do the popular “papaya” dance, he said.

“It’s really a sight to behold and judging from people’s reactions, they were indeed entertained,” he added.

A project of Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and his son, city administrator Alvin Fernandez, these dancing traffic enforcers, combine hand movements, body language and foot work as they perform their job.

“People were clapping their hands, motorists brought out their cellular phones and took some pictures of them while many were also dancing,” Mejia said.

They are stationed in three alternate routes along the traffic intersection in A.B. Fernandez Avenue-M.H. del Pilar and Arellano St. from 7 to 8:30 a.m., then along the intersection in Rizal St.-Perez Boulevard and Rizal Extension from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. along the Welcome Rotonda in Mayombo-M.H. del Pilar-Perez Boulevard.

These are the areas where there is heavy flow of traffic at certain periods.

Mejia said they ill add more dancing enforcers in other strategic places.

“They can really dance. It’s not embarrassing that they will be featured,” Mejia proudly said of his men. But he advised them “not to be immersed in their dancing and instead focus in controlling traffic.”

All three stay in their station, clad in their orange uniform, one on top of the traffic boxes painted yellow and black which has an audio system inside while the other two act as backup dancers several steps away.

Lorna Valdez, who is from Binmaley town who saw the dancing traffic enforcers said she enjoyed watching them and she felt relieved of the stress brought by heavy traffic during the holiday season in the city.

The city is also celebrating its fiesta this Christmas. This place is the core of business and academic centers in Pangasinan.