DoTr officials ordered to take public transportation 

THE ACTING CHIEF of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) has ordered all road and rail officials to use public transportation on their way to work to allow them to have “first-hand experience” of the its operations.

In a memorandum dated Sept. 15, Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez directed top agency officials to commute via public transport at least once a week from their respective residence to their places of business or office.

Starting Sept. 17, the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and director for road transport and infrastructure and non-infrastructure, and railways are ordered to take public transportation.

The order also covers the assistant secretary, executive director, regional directors, and assistant regional directors of the Land Transportation Office.

The chief also directed the chairman, executive director, regional directors, and assistant regional directors of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority, as well as general managers of the Philippine National Railways and DoTr-MRT3 (Metro Rail Transit 3) are also ordered to use public transportation.

Mr. Lopez said that the directive is 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 public transportation to better understand the predicaments of the commuting/riding public.”

Concerned officials are required to submit their weekly accomplishment reports, indicating their observations, recommendations, and plans of action, along with proof of compliance. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera