Panelo: No transport crisis

Panelo’s commute started early at 5:15 a.m. so he could arrive at Malacañang before 9 a.m. #commutechallenge #salpanelo

Salvador Panelo in a selfie inside a jeepney Friday morning. (F. Wakefield)

Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Friday debunked government critics’ claim of a prevailing transport crisis in Metro Manila after commuting to work.

“I have considered the term (transportation crisis) to mean transportation paralysis, that is, no available means of transport in order for one to reach his or her destination. In reality, however, one can certainly reach point B destination from point A. Accordingly, mass transportation in Metro Manila is not paralyzed. My stance on the aforesaid issue has not changed. Today’s experience even buttressed it,” said Panelo in a statement.

“The problem, as it should be obvious by now, is with respect to the duration of one’s travel and not in regard to the availability of our mass transportation,” he added.

Panelo took the challenge of Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes to commute to work during rush hour not because he didn’t know the plight of Metro Manila commuters.

“I knew the traffic woes that the commuters and workers go through even before I accepted the challenge. Their creativity has managed to tide them over vis-à-vis their daily ordeal,” he said.

“I empathize with their everyday plight. And this Administration is doing its best to resolve this long-standing problem that we have been facing for more than a decade,” added Panelo.

Panelo’s commute started early at 5:15 a.m. so he could arrive at Malacañang before 9 a.m. From his residence, Duterte’s mouthpiece said he could have reached his place of work in 20 minutes but he opted to traverse the longest route by taking four jeepney rides.

“I chose the circuitous route so that I may be able to assess the traffic situation in those areas. Hence, it took me almost four hours before I reached my destination,” he said.

He first boarded a jeepney at Hemady Street in New Manila, Quezon City going to Cubao. He then rode from Cubao to Marikina, where he lives.

From Marikina, he took another jeepney going to Cubao, where he transferred to another jeepney heading to Mendiola Street in San Miguel, Manila.

Panelo wanted to take the tricycle going to Malacañang but none was available or was broken. A rider gave him a hitch going to the Palace.

He assured that the Duterte administration is doing its best to resolve the long-standing problem that Metro Manila commuters have been facing for more than a decade.