THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday launched a fitness program for its personnel dubbed “Batak Trapiko Weight Loss Program” in cooperation with the Junior Chamber International-Manila.
Lawyer Victor Nunez, director of the MMDA’s Traffic Discipline Office, said the program aims to make agency employees, especially those tasked with delivering frontline services such as traffic enforcers, physically fit through proper diet and physical activities.
“The agency’s goal is to ensure that our traffic enforcers would serve as role models. That they not only know how to direct traffic but also to look snappy,” Nunez said, adding the program is akin to a “Biggest Loser” event where overweight traffic enforcers will be encouraged to shed weight.
“Our objective is to enable them to regain their physical fitness, encourage them to be disciplined since it is also a reflection of their character if they are healthy and physically fit,” he added.
Nunez said an initial 100 MMDA personnel have been chosen to participate in the program, which will last for 12 weeks.
JCI-Manila president Eric Ke said they decided to launch the program with MMDA traffic enforcers since they bore the brunt of the rigors of their work.
He said most of them also do not have the time or the proper knowledge on how to exercise and maintain a proper diet.
“Through this program, we will teach them how to exercise, maintain proper diet and how important a healthy body is to achieve a healthy lifestyle,” Ke added.
The participants’ diet and movements will be monitored online while a lifestyle expert and a physician will also monitor their daily progress.
The MMDA and JCI said cash prizes await the top three biggest weight losers at the end of the program.
Last month, the JCI organization also discussed with the MMDA its health awareness campaign and health insurance benefits, especially for traffic enforcers and street sweepers, who are at greater risk compared to other agency employees due to the nature of their work.
