On Panelo’s “distinctive” commuting experience
Manila, Philippines – The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) branded the commuting experience of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo as “distinctive” or far cry from the ordinary commuters’, as he appeared to be easygoing on his social media posts and media coverages.
“Sa katunayan, tinitingnan naming mas daring siya kaysa ibang government official, dahil siya lang ang tumanggap ng ‘commute challenge,’ kaso lagi siyang nakangiti sa byahe niya o relaxed na parang walang hinahabol na oras, kaiba sa mga ordinaryong commuter,” PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson and former Anakpawis lawmaker Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap said in a press statement.
Panelo traveled for almost 4 hours from Marikina City to his office in Malacanang. He admitted the hardships of commuting but still denied that there exist a mass transport crisis. However, it is not comparable to the experience of ordinary commuters, who are usually workers whose wages will be slashed down if they arrive late at their workplaces. Hicap said that daily long hours in traffic will certainly take toll on one’s health and even family life.
“Madali niya sabihin na walang mass transport crisis, kasi isang beses lang niya ginawa. Sa edad niyang iyan, delikado na sa kalusugan niya iyan, hindi na biro iyan. Pero ang ordinaryong mamamayan, tinitiis ito araw-araw, kaya krisis ito para sa mamamayan,” Hicap said.
Moreover, the fisherfolk leader said that Panelo actually did what Tugade should have done.
“Dapat nga si Tugade ang tumanggap ng hamon na iyan, dahil jurisdiction niya ang transportation. Sa ilalim niya nasira ang LRT2, hindi niya binabantayan ang MRT at LRT1 na nagloloko rin ang sistema. Kaya, parang si Panelo ang sumasalo sa kapalpakan niya, para hindi madamay si Duterte,” he said.
He urged for Panelo to make a formal report of his commuting experience to serve as reference for Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to craft appropriate actions or reforms.
“Huwag niyang gayahin si Tugade na nagsasabing nag-commute siya pero wala naman siyang nilalabas na report na kung ano ba ang obserbasyon o resolusyon sa mga problema. Trabaho nga ni Tugade na mag-research ukol sa karanasan ng mga commuter, sa laki ng departamento niya at mga attached bureau, walan man lang mailabas na study. Dinaig pa siya ng mga pribadong institusyon o grupo na sinubukang alamin ang kalagayan ng mga commuter,” he slammed.
The group said that the debate on the mass transport crisis has risen as there was no in-depth study on the actual experiences of the commuting public. It reiterated its demand for an integrated and inclusive public transportation system that upholds public interest than profitability for the private sector.
“Kitang kita na nating lahat na kapag inuna ang pagkamal ng tubo ng private sector, sa transportation, malawakang biktima ang mamamayan. Dapat nang i-overhaul ang patakarang ito dahil bangkarote na ito. Ang sasagot sa public interest ay public transportation system, hindi privatized. Kaya, sana lahat ng commuter ay sumama sa panawagang ito,” he called.
The group said that it will not push Panelo to go over again his commuting experience due to his health’s vulnerability. ###
