New Citom name, colors in new uniforms

Mayor Rama’s green team color is in new uniforms

First was a change of name.

Next is a change in their look.

Starting Monday, Cebu City traffic enforcers will be wearing green uniforms  with new logos on the street.

The team color of Mayor Michael Rama will replace the blue polo shirt and pants that enforcers of the  Cebu City Traffic Operations (Citom) personnel have been wearing for years.

Even the name of the traffic arm of the city government, created by virtue of a 1987 ordinance, and continuing in the term of  Mayor Tomas Osmeña, will no longer carry “Tom”, in its name.

READ: Rama refuses to wear blue-yellow

Recent memos already refer to the office by the generic name Cebu City Traffic  Office (CCTO).

City Ordinance No. 1264 creating Citom was enacted on Oct. 19, 1987.

Rey Gealon, the newly appointed executive director, issued a  memorandum yesterday directing the city’s 300 enforcers and 100 parking aides to wear their new uniform on August 10.

“Our new uniform is nice to look at.  No problem with the fit,” said Rafael Yap, whom Gealon replaced as Citom executive director last month.

Yap said it can’t be avoided that some people may be intially confused by the new getup.

Cebuanos are already used to seeing Citom enforcers guiding traffic in their royal blue polo shirts and dark blue pants, with white reflector bands. Citom parking aids wear yellow polo shirts.

Is it a coincidence that the change –  like ditching the color blue which is identified with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan – comes months before an anticipated heated election battle for the mayorship between Rama and Osmeña?

Both traffic executives insist the changes were in place long before.

Yap said the mayor gave verbal instructions for a change in uniform colors last September 2014, but it was not immediately carried out because the year’s clothing allowance of P5,000 per employee was already consumed by then.

Barely a week since he assumed office, Gealon told reporters  he would push ahead with adopting a change in name to the Cebu City Traffic Office.

He said this was based on City Ordinance No. 2239 passed in June 9, 2010 creating a full-fledged city traffic department, not just a special body.

“The use of the name CCTO instead of Citom will not in any way cause confusion because the organization  is intact,” said Gealon.

The 2010 ordinance creates the CCTO  with major divisions such as  transportation planning, transportation engineering, traffic enforcement and parking operations.

The new uniforms were made by Adrales Uniform Specialist starting last May with an initial batch already released. Remaining orders will be delivered this week.

Each traffic enforcer and parking aide will get two sets.

Type A has three green polo shirts with neon yellow markings on the front and back, said Yap.

Two pairs of black pants will have yellow reflector strips on the front and back.

The seal of Cebu City and the new CCTO seal will appear on the upper portion.

Type B uniform includes two green and yellow polo shirts with a white reflector at the back and two black pants which they would use during their wash day.

Each set of uniforms cost P4, 700, he said. Yap said the mayor presented his original design last year but traffic personnel introduced some changes.