Situated in the center of Tarlac province is Tarlac City, a first class city and the provincial capital. It is also the most populated locality in Tarlac province, with more than 385,000 people as of 2020.
The main campus of Tarlac State University is located here, along with several shopping malls such as Magic Star Mall, My MetroTown Mall, Palm Plaza Mall, Robinsons Luisita, and the first SM Supermall in the province: SM City Tarlac. The most common modes of public transport include jeepneys, tricycles, UV Express vehicles, and buses. Similar to Manila, where the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) operates, Tarlac City has a Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), which manages traffic and road activities.
What is Tarlac City POSO?
Generally speaking, the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) is in charge of traffic management and transport-related activities in Tarlac City.
Vision and Mission
According to the official website of the Tarlac City Government, the POSO’s vision, mission, and objectives are:
Vision. “An effective traffic transport system that contributes to the economic growth, quality of life, and environmental sustainability of Tarlac City.”
Mission. “To regulate, plan, and develop an efficient and well-integrated traffic and transport system that serves the public interest.”
Objectives
The Tarlac City POSO aims to reduce the volume of vehicles traversing on traffic congested intersections by:
- Improvement and opening of roads;
- Installation of signage and pedestrian lanes;
- Removal of extension of establishments and obstructions along sidewalks; and
- Implementation of Tarlac City Traffic Code Ordinances and amendments of the same, if the need arises.
General Functions
In accordance with the above vision, mission, and objectives, the Tarlac City POSO’s general functions are as follows:
- Encourages law abiding citizens of Tarlac City to participate more actively in the maintenance of peace and order;
- Coordinates with different law enforcement agencies for Intelligence Networking;
- Takes necessary measures to improve the traffic condition in the city and to enforce existing traffic rules and regulations;
- Regulates the operation of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) operating within the city;
- Conduct widespread public information drives against lawless elements in all barangay levels;
- Provides team training and seminars on community defense against lawlessness, rescue operations, disaster management and the like;
- Spearheads anti-drug abuse activities and handles matters involving illegal drug abuse problems in the city, thus contributing to the demand reduction scheme to eradicate drug addiction;
- Creates an extensive set of activities covering all aspects of disaster preparedness from relief and response, to recovery and mitigation;
- Provides assistance to persons who are victims of disasters;
- Responds to emergency situations like accidents and lawless incidents; and
- Performs other duties and functions necessary in the prevention and maintenance of peace and order.
Services Offered
Meanwhile, among the services offered by the Tarlac City POSO are:
Issuance of Inspection Report for Public Transport and Motorized Tricycles for Hire
This service is offered to operators of motorized tricycles, public utility vehicles, public utility buses, mini-buses, and school buses.
Issuance of Release Order and Impounded Vehicles
This service is issued to persons apprehended for traffic violations, who would like to claim their driver’s licenses and/or impounded vehicles after settling the penalties involved.
Violations and Penalties
Based on the Citizen’s Charter or Tarlac City Government, here are some common traffic violations and their corresponding penalties:
For Motorized Tricycles for Hire
- Refusal to convey passengers – PHP 100 (first offense) / PHP 150 (second offense) / PHP 200 (third offense)
- Wearing sando while driving and conveying passengers – PHP 100 (first offense) / PHP 150 (second offense) / PHP 200 (third offense)
- Out of route for special franchise – PHP 100 (first offense) / PHP 300 (second offense) / PHP 500 (third offense)
- Violating any traffic rules and regulations (i.e. disregarding traffic lights/signs/officers, illegal parking, obstruction, stalled vehicle, overspeeding, loading/unloading on prohibited zones, reckless driving, one way) – PHP 150 (first offense) / PHP 200 (second offense) / PHP 250 (third offense)
- No MTOP, metal plate with body and Mayor’s permit sticker, body number, name of operator, address not properly painted – PHP 150 (first offense) / PHP 200 (second offense) / PHP 250 (third offense)
- Coding – PHP 150 (first offense) / PHP 350 (second offense) / PHP 500 (third offense)
- No sticker/fare matrix – PHP 200 (first offense) / PHP 300 (second offense) / PHP 500 (third offense) / PHP 2,000 + impounding of tricycle unit (fourth offense)
- No silencer (modified muffler) – PHP 200 (first offense) / PHP 500 + impounding of subject vehicle (second offense) / PHP 1,000 + impounding of subject vehicle and cancellation of franchise (third offense)
- Driving while under the influence of liquor, hallucinogens, and prohibited drugs – PHP 500 (first offense) / PHP 1,000 (second offense) / PHP 1,500 (third offense)
- Colorum – – PHP 500 (first offense) / PHP 1,000 (second offense) / PHP 5,000 + impounding of unit (third offense)
- Duplication of body number – PHP 2,000 + impounding of side car
- Overcharging – 1 month suspension of franchise + confiscation of metal plate (first offense) / 3 months suspension of franchise + confiscation of metal plate (second offense) / cancellation of franchise (third offense)
For PUJs, Private Vehicles, and Trucks
- Loading/Unloading on prohibited zones – PHP 200 (first offense) / PHP 400 (second offense) / PHP 800 (third offense)
- Driving with invalid license (for all types of vehicles) – PHP 200 (first offense) / PHP 500 (second offense) / PHP 1,000 (third offense)
- Illegal terminal/No LTFRB franchise, LTO registration, Mayor’s permit, and common terminal pass (trip ticket) – PHP 500 (first offense) / PHP 1,000 (second offense) / PHP 2,000 (third offense)
- Loading at Private Loading Area not approved by Mayor’s Office – PHP 500 (first offense) / PHP 1,000 (second offense) / PHP 2,000 (third offense)
- PUJs who exceed maximum 3 units and 1 unit (for mini-bus) who loaded passengers at Private Loading Area – PHP 300 (first offense) / PHP 500 (second offense) / PHP 1,000 + prohibited to load passengers at Private Loading Area (third offense)
- Driving without license (for all types of vehicles) – PHP 500 (first offense) / PHP 1,000 (second offense) / PHP 3,000 (third offense)
- Driving while under the influence of liquor, hallucinogens, and prohibited drugs – PHP 1,000 (first offense) / PHP 2,000 (second offense) / PHP 3,000 (third offense)
For UV Express Vehicles
- Out of route and no terminal ticket for UV Express – PHP 500 (first offense) / PHP 1,000 (second offense) / PHP 2,000 (third offense)
Contact Information: Tarlac City POSO
If you have any questions for the Tarlac City POSO, you can get in touch with the through this address and contact details:
Address: Tarlac City Hall, Rizal corner Burgos St., Barangay Ligtasan, Tarlac City, Tarlac
Telephone: (045) 809 0111 / 0930 164 6092
Email: TarlacCityPOSO@gmail.com
Website: https://tarlaccity.gov.ph/poso/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TarlacCityPOSO/
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the Tarlac City Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) not only takes care of traffic management, but general public order and safety, as well. The office makes sure that the city’s streets, roads, and public spaces are safe for everyone!
Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, there are similar road authorities that manage traffic and enforce traffic laws. Check out this article about the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) in Tagum City.