One of the youngest member of the House of Representatives
had this novelty of an idea for a law.
The 29 year old ,ANGAT Tayo Party List Rep. Neil Abayon has filed
House Bill 6195, which will require government officials, elected or appointed with
the rank or equivalent of division chief to department secretary to ride public
land transport to and from work and for official business at least once every
calendar month during weekday rush hours.
"Public service improves when it is rendered with
empathy and compassion. Public service requires living modestly and does not
mean entitlement to perks such as business class and first-class accommodations
with airlines," the lawmaker said
in a statement.
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| In 2013 a Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) study release, claims that the Philippines is losing PHP 2.4 billion a day due to traffic congestion that eats up time that could have been used for other productive pursuits.(photo credit to the owner) |
In the bill public utility vehicles listed are that of passenger
buses, commuter trains, light rail, taxis and transport network vehicle
service, public utility jeepneys and passenger tricycles. For air and sea
travel, government officials will be mandated to take economy class.
The bill however also call for an exemption: The President,
Vice President, the Chief Justice and the Justices of the Supreme Court,
however, are exempted from the proposed bill as well as officials with existing
physical handicaps or serious medical condition, security threats and concerns.
Tasked to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations
of the law are the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
Other government officials gave their nod to the measure
Sol Aragones, who was first known to be a member of the
media industry before being elected as representative of Laguna said that
immersion is important for lawmakers in proposing bills.
Other government officials are warm to the idea, saying it
is better for themselves to experience the rush hour during the commuting hours
on weekdays.
"Why not? That's a very good proposal dito sa NCR
[National Capital Region]. Well, nightmare naman talaga ang traffic dito. We
have come up with some proposed solutions. Sometimes I take the bus so I can
feel how comfortable is the travel," House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez
said.
"It's good. It's one reason why the presidential form
of government is more embraced in the Filipino...," Cayetano said.
"If Congress will pass that, I don't mind doing because
I've been doing that while I was in government service. Sumasakay ako sa MRT,
LRT even when I was SOJ (Secretary of Justice)..." Bello said.
When asked what brought about this idea of his, "The
objective [is] so we can empathize with the riding pubic. The transport sector
kasi, if we go to the field, makikita talaga namin kung ano yung problemang
dinadaanan ng riding public on a daily basis," Abayon said.
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