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Acting transport secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered all road and rail officials of the Department of Transportation to use public modes of transportation at least once a week
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The directive was issued ‘to ensure the effective implementation of transportation projects and programs by allowing DOTr officials to have first hand experience in the operations of various modes [of] public transportation’
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The order begins on September 17 and will remain in effect until further notice
Acting Transport secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered all road and rail officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to use public modes of transportation at least once a week as part of measures to find solutions to commuter problems.
The directive was issued “to ensure the effective implementation of transportation projects and programs by allowing DOTr officials to have first hand experience in the operations of various modes [of] public transportation to better understand the predicaments of the commuting/riding public,” according to a memorandum issued by Lopez on September 15.
The order begins on September 17 and will remain in effect until further notice.
Road and rail officials required to use public transport once a week from their respective residences to their places of business/offices include undersecretaries and assistant secretaries for railways, and road transport and non-infrastructure; undersecretary and director for road transport and infrastructure; assistant secretary, executive director, regional and assistant regional directors of the Land Transportation Office; chairman, executive director, regional and assistant regional directors of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board; Light Rail Transit administrator; Philippine National Railways general manager; and Metro Rail Transit-3 general manager.
These officials are required to submit their weekly accomplishment reports indicating their observations, recommendations, and plans of action, with proof of compliance such as photos and tickets.
“Itong mga opisyal natin sa Road at Rail sector, sila talaga ‘yung mga dapat lumalabas lagi kasi karamihan ng ating mga proyekto ay nasa mga sektor na ito,” Lopez said in a statement.
“‘Yung mga ibang opisyal naman sa ibang sectors, hinihikayat din nating mag-commute dahil ito lang talaga yung paraan para makita at madama first hand kung ano ba ang hirap na nararanasan ng mga commuters,” he added.
On September 15, Lopez also took public transportation during the rush hour to get to the DOTr office in San Juan from Commonwealth, Quezon City.
Lopez, who took office early this month, said he will also continue to follow the standards set by his predecessor Vince Dizon while he was at the helm of DOTr—putting the interest and welfare of commuters first, and accountability.
“Kung gusto po talaga natin solusyunan at tugunan ang problema ng mga komyuter, kailangan natin lumabas sa ating opisina. We have to go out in the field, see the problem, and fix it in real time,” Lopez said.
