Palace backs DOTr’s once a week commute order

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang supports an order of the Department of Transportation requiring DOTr officials to ride public transit at least once a week to experience the struggles of commuters.

President Marcos would support the policy of any government agency as long as it is reasonable and does not violate human rights, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said yesterday.

“It’s good so that public officials can truly experience what commuters go through every day,” Castro said.

Covered by the directive of acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez are undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, executive directors and regional directors of the Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Administrators and general managers of the Light Rail Transit Authority, Philippine National Railways and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) were also ordered to ride public transport once a week.

DOTr officials are required to submit weekly accomplishment reports indicating their observations, recommendations and plans of action, with proof of compliance starting today.

Lopez on Monday rode a bus, boarded an MRT-3 train and climbed the EDSA Kamuning footbridge, known as “Mt. Kamuning.”

“It’s really difficult what our fellow citizens go through every day. Commuting feels like a punishment and is exhausting,” Lopez said.

Marcos recently increased fare discount of students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities in all Metro Manila railways from 20 to 50 percent.

“Because everywhere I go, seniors and students are given high (fare discount), 50 percent,” Marcos said in a podcast interview in June.

The 50-percent fare discount on trains will be implemented until 2028.