MANILA, Philippines - For Malacañang, there is no need for Pres. Benigno Aquino III to ride the metro's rapid transit lines to understand the plight of daily commuters.
Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma said at a televised press briefing on Wednesday that the President knows the country's problems in the transportation sector.
"Hindi naman niya kailangang gawin yan dahil batid naman niya iyong paghihirap na dinaranas ng libo-libong mga commuters sa kanilang araw-araw na paggamit ng ating mass rapid transit facilities," Coloma said.
He said the President has ordered concerned agencies and officials to speed up the implementation of capacity expansion projects to ease the troubles of commuters.
Elvira Medina of the National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection has reportedly dared Aquino to ride the trains of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Railway Transit (LRT) to experience the daily problems of the passengers.
In August of last year, an online petition on advocacy website Change.org also challenged Aquino to require all government officials to take public transportation to make them understand the plight of commuters.
The petition, which was addressed to the President himself, asked Aquino to require all government officials, including Malacañang staff and the Cabinet, to take public transit at least once a month.
"The government puts all its efforts in trying to solve traffic, but not in solving public transportation," the petition said.
Read: Online petition: Noy should require officials take MRT, buses