San Pedro is a third class component city in Laguna. Spanning an area of only 24.05 square kilometers, it is one of the smallest units in the province. However, it is the fifth most populated city in Laguna and has the highest population density in the entire region of CALABARZON, with almost 14,000 residents per square kilometer!
Since San Pedro is located next to Metro Manila, it is often called “Laguna’s Gateway to Metro Manila.” Everyday, many of the city’s residents commute to Metro Manila for work. In addition to private vehicles, there are many public buses and jeepneys connecting San Pedro to nearby towns and cities. Within the town proper and residential areas, there area tricycles and pedicabs, as well.
Similar to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the capital, San Pedro has a Public Order and Safety Office – Traffic Management Unit (POSO-TMU) that manages traffic and road safety.
What is the San Pedro POSO-TMU?
The Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) of the San Pedro City Government was established to help ensure the overall safety of the city’s residents. Under this office, there’s the Traffic Management Unit (TMU), which manages traffic implements traffic rules. It also has a Traffic Regulatory Unit (TRU), which manages the registration and franchises of public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as tricycles.
Vision and Mission
The POSO-TMU’s directives generally go in line with the vision and mission of the San Pedro City Government, as follows:
Vision. San Pedro is envisioned to be “a leading, recognized Smart City in CALABARZON by 2032.”
Mission. The city government aims to “deliver the highest quality of basic services to our constituents while optimizing our resources in accordance with the statutory requirements and our core values.”
Traffic Updates
The POSO-TMU’s primary function is to manage traffic and ensure the road safety of all motorists, commuters, and pedestrians. To achieve this purpose, it provides traffic updates on an daily basis, sharing information and real-time footage of traffic situations in the city’s main thoroughfares. These include traffic updates on places sucg as the National Highway, Meralco/Muntinlupa Boundary, Center Island/C5, Landayan/Robinsons/Divimart Hi-way, Pacita Intersection, and Pacita/Westlake Hospital to Biñan Boundary.
Traffic Advisories
Aside from releasing daily traffic updates, the POSO-TMU also announces road advisories ahead of special occasions and road constructions and/or rehabilitations.
Last September, for example, the POSO-TMU issued a traffic advisory regarding the Feast of San Miguel Archangel on September 29, 2024. Motorists were told to expect heavy traffic from Oliver Compound-Highway to 7-Eleven Landayan, as part of the activities related to the religious occasion.
Meanwhile, last month, a road advisory was made, informing motorists about the implementation of a “stop and go” traffic scheme on October 22, 2024 along a portion of Rosario Main Road (Barangay Rosario). The scheme was implemented to give way to the “Asphalt Overlay” project of the City Engineering Office.
External Services
The POSO-TMU also provides external services, as mentioned in the Citizen’s Charter of San Pedro City Government:
Recording of Documents of Apprehension
As part of the POSO-TMU’s operational procedures, cases of traffic violations involve the recording of documents of apprehension. An official violation receipt (OVR) is issued to the violator, who must pay the fees based on the violation committed.
Arbitration Procedure of Complaints
In cases where apprehended violators have a complaint about the OVR issued to them, they may present their case to the POSO-TMU, which will carry out an investigation.
Community Assistance
The POSO-TMU provides community assistance for various situations, such as road clearing, road crashes, alarming public scandal, and other cases.
Public Assistance Request
The POSO-TMU provides different types of public assistance, including assistance during motorcades, funerals, events, escorting VIPs, and other cases.
Violations and Penalties
The POSO-TMU enforces traffic rules and regulations. These include the following violations and their corresponding penalties:
- No Jaywalking – PHP 200 (1st offense); PHP 300 (2nd offense); PHP 500 + community service (3rd offense)
- No Right Turn on Red Signal – PHP 300 (1st offense); PHP 500 (2nd offense); PHP 1,000 (3rd offense)
- No U-Turn Allowed – PHP 300 (1st offense); PHP 500 (2nd offense); PHP 1,000 (3rd offense)
- No Loading/Unloading – PHP 500 (1st offense); PHP 1,000 (2nd offense); PHP 1,500 (3rd offense)
- Unauthorized/Uniformed Barkers for PUJ and TODA – PHP 500 (1st offense); PHP 1,000 (2nd offense); PHP 1,500 (3rd offense)
- Disregarding Closed Door Policy – PHP 1,000
- Disregarding One-Way Road/No Entry – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- Disregarding Traffic Signs – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- No Parking Zone – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- Obstruction – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- Noise Pollution – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- Maximum Speed Limit of Single Motorcycle – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- Out of Line – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- Prohibition of Multi-Riders in a Single Motorcycle – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 (3rd offense)
- Defacing, Unlawful Removal of Traffic Signs – PHP 1,000 (1st offense); PHP 2,000 (2nd offense); PHP 3,000 and/or 3-day imprisonment at the discretion of the court (3rd offense)
- Reckless Driving – PHP 1,500 and/or imprisonment of not more than 3 days at the discretion of the court
- Illegal/Unauthorized Terminal – PHP 2,000 or 15-day imprisonment at the discretion of the court
- Illegal Use of Franchise – PHP 2,000 (1st offense); PHP 3,000 (2nd offense); PHP 5,000 or imprisonment at the discretion of the court (3rd offense)
Contact Information: San Pedro POSO-TMU
If you have any questions or concerns for the San Pedro POSO-TMU, you can get in touch with them through the city’s POSO headquarters, which has the following contact details:
Address: New San Pedro City Hall, San Pedro, Laguna
Telephone: 8-8082020
Website: https://cityofsanpedrolaguna.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552310247856
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
Being so close to Metro Manila, it’s not surprising that San Pedro would become the highy-populated urban area that it is today. Thanks to the San Perdo Public Order and Safety Office – Traffic Management Unit (POSO-TMU), the city’s motorists and commuters can be assured of road safety and smooth travel.
In other parts of Laguna province, there are similar road authorities that manage traffic and enforce traffic laws, as well. Check out this article to know more about the Calamba City Public Order and Safety Office: Traffic Management Division.