President Benigno Aquino III: Please require ALL public officials to take public transit once a month!

Change.org: "Dear President Aquino,

80% of Metro Manila residents—including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—take public transportation.

Yet the dismal state of public transit doesn’t allow them mobility with safety and civility. They suffer long lines, squeeze into jam-packed trains and rickety buses and jeeps, and endure long travel times.

The government puts all its efforts in trying to solve traffic, but not in solving public transportation.

We keep building roads and flyovers that only encourage more people to drive their cars. But we don’t invest in facilities that make it easier for transit riders to get from point A to point B. These facilities include comfortable bus, jeep, and train stops, wide sidewalks, and well-designed walkways that connect the different modes of transport.

The only way government officials will understand the plight of commuters is if they themselves take public transit regularly.

Please require all government officials, including Malacañang staff and senior cabinet officials, to take public transit at least once a month.

Please make this sacrifice so you can all understand the daily realities faced by the majority of your fellow Filipinos. "

DOTC urges Pinoys to use public transportation to ease road traffic

GMA News Online: "The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) urged Filipinos, especially those with private vehicles, to use public transportation to address the growing road traffic problem in the country."

'via Blog this'

Many improvements needed for Manila #publictransit

The Philippine Star : "If authorities want people to take mass transportation, they should improve public safety. There are panties for sale in this country with zippered pockets in front. I was told by regular commuters that the pockets are where they keep their cash and other small valuables especially when taking a bus to the provinces."

The only solution to Manila traffic headaches is an intelligent, efficient mass transit system

What do we do about Metro Manila’s headache? | Opinion, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "But no question about it, the only way forward is to develop an intelligent and efficient mass rapid transit system in order to lessen the number of vehicles on the streets, because it will encourage people to leave their cars and take public transport for lengthy distances."

Bill introduced to make public transport the primary mobility option in 12 months

Inquirer News: "
“The DoTC shall provide guidelines that will promote a shift toward public transportation as a primary mobility option to the general public within 12 months from the effectivity of this act,” it says.
The Cayetano bill also provides for three-meter-wide sidewalks along primary and secondary roads for safe pedestrian passage and the convenient use of wheelchairs and strollers.
It also provides for bike lanes “for the preferential or exclusive use of bicycles” in a portion of roadways and highways.
Cayetano proposes that better public transportation initiatives be studied and implemented “to reduce the impact of the declining oil economy on our environment and financial markets as well as help reduce energy costs, pollution and even urban poverty.”"

Labor, transport groups plan nationwide protest vs gas, price hikes

Inquirer News: "MANILA, Philippines—Fed up with the continued increase in the prices of fuel and other commodities, militant groups, including a transport group, announced Wednesday the holding of a “nationwide protest” on July 16."

Philippines adoption of car culture was a mistake. Move people instead of vehicles

Inquirer Opinion: "The government neglected the PNR after the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal because we were seduced by American vehicle exporters to use the motor transport instead. Now we see how wrong that was."