NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA) --- As face-to-face classes resume and with all offices now operating on a full-scale working, Naga City Public Safety Office (PSO) Chief Renne Gumba predicts traffic congestion, particularly during significant events and celebrations held in the city.

Gumba told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Camarines Sur that the PSO had already planned several innovations to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly in the city's main business district and around the university belt. 

“We have all the support of the LGU through Mayor Nelson Legacion especially in the operation of the command center.  This will be equipped with CCTVs. We now have an ongoing installation of CCTVs in strategic parts of the city. We are already finished with the command modules and the switch data boxes so hopefully in the next few months we can expect a better traffic flow,” Gumba continued.

Gumba also said that an initial P5 million pesos has been allocated for the operation of the command center.

In terms of personal deployment, Gumba said "the briefing and debriefing of our PSO personnel are done every 6am, 2pm, and 10 pm so there are 3 times in each day that the personnel take turns in shifts in 3 areas which are traffic direction, security, and enforcement work.”

He also said that there is an ongoing personnel enhancement series from values formation, costumer relations, and skills training.

In partnership with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Naga, PSO also conducted a deputation seminar on Feb.8, Wednesday, with PSO personnel as participants. Topics include the discussion on rules, regulations and violations for the issuance of Temporary Operator's Permit (TOP) as deputized agents of LTO. This is to strengthen the skills, values, and orientation of their personnel.

Gumba also reminded Nagueños and those coming from neighboring towns that there are upcoming events in the city, particularly this month of February that may cause traffic congestion and affect the ease of mobility in the city. He assured the public though, that PSO personnel will be there to manage the traffic flow and assist the motorists.

“The PalengQR by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will be launched on February 10, Friday at the plaza area, in CBD 1. Expect that there will be a lot of people as the Governor of the BSP will also be there.  Simultaneously, the Universidad de Sta Isabel (USI) will celebrate their 83rd Alumni Anniversary.  As part of their celebration, there will be a parade around the city which will contribute to heavy flow of traffic,” Gumba added.

The last and the most important activity for this month is the Valentine's Day trade fair which will be opened to the public at the plaza area. Flower vendors and entrepreneurs will be selling gifts and flowers in anticipation of the influx of buyers in line with the celebration of Heart’s month.

Gumba also said that they are working closely with the Naga City Police Office (NCPO) and other enforcement agencies particularly, members of the Peace and Order Council (NCPOC) of the city as they continue to strengthen the working relations with all the other agencies and offices in the city.  

He also reminded the public to take cognizance of the role and authority bestowed upon the deputized agents whose course of actions are based on the ordinances and the deputation orders that they have received from national agencies.

“The Naga City PSO is working continuously and we hope that the work of our personnel will be complemented with training and technology interventions that the city is developing," Mr. Gumba said. (With reports from Raiza Mae Tapar and AJ Nicole Tapar, USI interns-PIA5/Camarines Sur)