The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has said it will start fielding lady enforcers along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila on Sept. 20 to assist the agency in its drive against traffic violators.

According to LTO Chief Virginia Torres, 20 lady enforcers will be initially deployed along the 24-kilometer long Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other major roadways in the metropolis.

EDSA, which runs from Caloocan City to Pasay City, is the prime thoroughfare in the metropolis used daily by hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

Torres said the lady enforcers, who will wear white uniforms with vests, are trained to be courteous but uncompromising to motorists who disregard traffic rules and regulations.

“Sapat po ang kasanayan ng ating mga lady enforcers na ipakakalat natin sa mga lansangan (Our lady enforcers are already trained for deployment in the thoroughfares). They are kind but if there are arguments with the traffic violators, they are ready for confrontation and they can call their male counterparts for help,” Torres said.

However, the LTO chief said the deployment of the lady enforcers would lessen the chances for confrontation with motorists as she recalled the days when she was herself a traffic enforcer.

“Nakita ko nung panahon namin na di nakukuhang magalit ng mga nahuhuling driver kapag ang nanghuli sa kanila ay mga babaeng enforcers. Ang iba nga, nakangiti pa (I noticed during our days that drivers caught by lady enforcers did not get mad. Some of them even were even smiling),” she said.

Motorists also perceive lady enforcers as less prone to extort from drivers.

Torres urged motorists and commuters to continue reporting traffic violations by calling the LTO Hotline 921-9071 during office hours.