In a decisive move to tackle the daily struggles of commuters head-on, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has mandated its officials to leave their official vehicles behind and use public transportation at least once a week, effective immediately.
The directive, issued through a memorandum by Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, is a direct response to the President’s order to find immediate and effective solutions to the country’s pressing transportation woes. The policy aims to provide DOTr officials with a firsthand, ground-level perspective of the commuting public’s experiences, leading to more empathetic and effective policy-making.
The order specifically targets officials from the road and rail sectors, who are at the forefront of the agency’s major infrastructure projects.
“Our officials in the Road and Rail sectors are the ones who should always be out in the field, as the majority of our projects are in these sectors,” stated Acting Secretary Lopez. He further encouraged all other officials across different sectors to voluntarily participate, emphasizing, “This is the only way to truly see and feel firsthand the hardships experienced by our commuters.”
Beyond the act of commuting itself, the directive requires officials to submit a comprehensive report after their weekly commute. These reports must contain concrete recommendations and actionable plans to improve the public transportation system, ensuring the initiative translates into tangible results.
Leading by example, Secretary Lopez himself embarked on a commute during Monday morning’s rush hour to personally interact with passengers and witness the realities of the daily journey.
This hands-on approach from the highest level of the department signals a renewed commitment to prioritizing the commuter’s plight, aiming to transform daily commutes from a source of hardship into a safer, more efficient, and comfortable experience for all Filipinos.#
