Goodbye wang-wang, hello ‘traffic sweepers’

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100810/tph-goodbye-wang-wang-hello-traffic-swee-d6cd5cf.html

GMANews.TV - Wednesday, August 11

Cliche it might be, but it remains true: If there is a will, there is a way. Stubborn government officials have found a way to run around the “no wang-wang (siren)" policy of President Benigno Aquino III in traveling through congested city traffic.

Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng has noticed that the new modus operandi seems to be employing “traffic sweepers," or escort vehicles whose task is to clear a path through traffic by blocking other vehicles.

“In my everyday trip to Congress, I have, on several occasions, witnessed government officials, who despite not using sirens en route to their respective offices, have been using escort vehicles to block off other cars as they pass along the heavily-congested roads," Tieng said. He added: “These government officials, with the aid of their traffic sweepers, can then counter the flow of traffic. So basically, these traffic sweepers replaced the wang-wang." Tieng said traffic sweepers are usually a pair of motorcycles or a pair of cars and a back-up vehicle. He said an advance motorcycle or car goes ahead to block the traffic while the official’s vehicle passes through. Beside it is another vehicle which serves as security and a third vehicle stays at the rear. “I think the President, or whoever is concerned, should take a serious look at this practice if indeed, President Aquino is sincere in his inaugural promise to do away with government officials abusing their position," said Tieng. In his inaugural speech last July after taking his oath as the country’s 15th president, Aquino vowed to go after those who abuse power and set an example by not using wang-wang. (See: Aquino vows to pursue 'true and complete justice for all')—Amita O. Legaspi/JV, GMANews.TV