Palace: PNoy too busy, no need to take MRT challenge
MANILA, Philippines - For Malacañang, there is no need for President Aquino to take the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) to understand the plight of daily commuters.
"Hindi naman niya kailangang sumakay doon para maramdaman niya o maunawaan niya," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a televised press briefing on Tuesday.
Coloma said the president is also dealing with the other problems of the country besides the MRT 3.
"Unawain natin na ang Pangulo ay ama ng bayan. Marami pong mga suliranan ang kinahaharap sa lahat... sa buong maghapon at magdamag," the Palace official said.
"Kung ako po, bilang isang kagawad ng Gabinete niya, ay marami nang inaalala... 'yung kanyang inaalala at hinaharap ay 25 beses na kasingdami sa bawat isa sa amin (25 Cabinet secretaries). Kaya sana'y maunawaan naman natin ito," he added.
Government officials have been challenged by the public to ride the MRT 3 during rush hour as it continues to experience operational and maintenance problems.
Read: MRT3 defects on the rise
The challenge also followed the MRT accident last month when a defective train rammed into the barrier of the Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City, injuring more than 30 people.
Transportation Secretary Emilio Abaya has accepted the challenge, but he was criticized for the riding the coach intended for women and the elderly. He also did not take the train during rush hour.
Senator Grace Poe, who headed the committee hearing into the state of the MRT, also accepted the dare to get a first-hand experience of commuters.
Aquino's spokespersons, Edwin Lacierda and Abigail Valte, rode the train on Monday.
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