Commute challenge won’t solve transport problem – DOJ chief

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra is not inclined to take on a lawmaker’s commute challenge requiring government officials to use public transportation on Mondays, saying it would only add to the problems of regular commuters.

Guevarra yesterday issued this response to the proposal of Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao, chairman of the House committee on civil service and professional regulation, who is pushing for the passage of the “Public Servants’ Commuting via Public Transport Act,” which would ground government vehicles and make it mandatory for elected and appointed officials to use public transport on Mondays.

The justice secretary said he is not immune to the difficulties of commuting, since he experienced this going to and from his house in Bulacan before he became a lawyer.

“I am used to the hardships of daily commute to and from Bulacan. I had no first-owned car till I became a lawyer, and had no driver until I got to Malacañang. I know how hard it is out there,” said Guevarra.

He recalled that in 2015, it would take him at least two hours just to travel from NLEX to Ortigas Center.