By Mae Singuay

The Bacolod City government has yet to decide on the request of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) head, Police Major Junji Liba, for an additional 42 traffic enforcers to be deployed during the MassKara Festival.

City administrator Pacifico Maghari III is yet to confirm if the city will hire additional personnel to be assigned to BTAO and the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO).

He said they will have to check if there are available funds.

They are also considering hiring additional job order casuals.

Maghari admitted that there is a need to hire more traffic enforcers during the MassKara Festival from October 7 to 22.

He said traffic congestion would be critical, especially during the festival highlights in the third week of October.

Only the festival’s pre-activities are lined-up in the first week.

Earlier, Liba requested the city government to hire an additional traffic aide following the termination of BTAO job order casuals that tested positive for illegal drugs.

In August, 32 BTAO personnel and 21 POSO staff were tested positive for illegal drug use following a random drug test./MS, WDJ