Panelo unfazed, insists there is no mass transport crisis

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo is unfazed by criticisms over his statements that there is no mass transport crisis in Metro Manila, which negated claims by leftist groups.

“I stand by my statement: there is no mass transport crisis,” Panelo said yesterday.

“The crisis is in the sufferance of commuters and motorists, while the other crisis is in the inefficient operation and maintenance of the (Light Rail Transits) – the crisis is in its poor management,” he added.

Panelo meant that there was no mass transit paralysis.

“Had the critics and nitpickers read the transcript of my remarks in the press briefing yesterday, they would have readily understood that when I said there is no mass transit crisis, I meant there is no mass transit crisis simply because there is no mass transit paralysis,” he said.

The presidential spokesman explained that he even called out the concerned officials regarding the need to address concerns of the commuters, who are burdened by transport woes in the metropolis.

“This is the reason why I called the attention of the management of these existing railway operators, a narrative which was left unstated in various reports to the public. In fact, I even chided the LRT management on live television that they should do more in providing efficient service to the public,” he said.

Panelo assured the commuting public that the administration has been working double time to address the need for a better and more efficient public transport system even before the breakdown of the LRT-2.

“The daily suffering of the commuters is a given. That is not to say, however, that we will just continue with our sufferance,” he said.

“We will not allow it to be constant and permanent. Everyone who commutes or drives suffers every day, but solutions to solve it are not insuperable, and this administration is doing its best to provide not just immediate but also long-term solutions,” he added.

Panelo made the remarks as he admitted noticing that his latest statements have “become a subject of ridicule and hate by the President’s usual critics and detractors.”

“Just because I disagree with the leftist organization’s theory on the existence of a mass transport crisis does not mean that I am unaware of the vexing daily commute as well as the burden caused by the worsening traffic conditions in Manila,” he said. Richmond Mercurio, Mayen Jaymalin