Starting this week, officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) are required to take public transportation to their offices at least once a week. This directive follows the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in an effort to help ease the daily burdens of commuters.
In a memorandum issued by DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, officials from the road and rail sectors have been instructed to regularly use public transport. The purpose, Lopez explains, is to give them a better understanding of commuters’ needs and challenges.
According to Lopez, “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 (Our officials in the Road and Rail sectors should really be the ones going out regularly, because most of our projects are in these areas).”
Lopez added that the directive isn’t limited to road and rail sector officials, emphasizing that it also encourages other officials to take public transportation, as this is the only way to truly see and feel, firsthand, the hardships that commuters go through.
As part of the directive, officials are also required to submit reports after their weekly commute. These reports must include recommendations and action plans on how public transportation can be further improved. The initiative is expected to provide valuable insights that will shape future programs and policies of the department.
To set an example, Lopez himself took public transport on his way to the DOTr office during the Monday morning rush hour. The experience allowed him to directly engage with passengers and personally witness the hard life of daily commuters. The move aims to ensure that decision-makers are not detached from the realities and daily struggles of Filipino commuters who rely on buses, jeepneys, and trains on a daily basis.
By commuting alongside the public, DOTr officials are expected to develop solutions based on actual experiences, and not on reports alone.
Through this measure, the DOTr aims to reinforce the agency’s commitment to deliver a transportation system that’s not only efficient but also empathetic to the needs of the riding public.
