DOTr doesn’t tolerate ‘any form of inequality’
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday said it does not tolerate “any form of inequality.”
DOTr issued the statement after a video showing a transgender woman being barred from entering a coach reserved for female passengers of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) circulated online.
“DOTr respects and promotes gender equality. We will not tolerate any form of inequality when it comes to gender or service,” the DOTr said in a statement.
“We will seek an audience with our GAD (Gender and Development) committee to address this issue, and come up with guidelines if necessary,” it added.
DOTr Communication’s Director Goddess Libiran, meanwhile, said she saw nothing wrong with a transgender using the coach reserved for female passengers of the MRT.
“I don’t see anything wrong if they are allowed to be there. Siguro it’s a matter of further educating our staff and employees, even security guards to be more sensitive on these kinds of things,” Libiran told reporters.
I ride the MRT because I have no car. I want to be an efficient working person, and to not contribute to the traffic anymore. I dont want a special lane. Sumisiksik at bumubiwis buhay din ako katulad ng ibang tao sa linya na pang-Lahat. Kahapon I encouraged my blogger friends to ride the MRT so we can arrive at work concert on time. And we entered the female and disabled lane kasi we all are female naman (biologically no,but female in gender, Yes) and magkakasama dapat kami pagbaba saAraneta where thousands of people are there at dahil some of my straight women friends are first-timersto commute. So I led kahit first time ko rin pumasok sa lane na to. Then this happened. What was not coveredin this video took by @martinjohnandrade was the first part when 2 security guards approached me and said “Bawal Po Lalaki Dito”. I said “Sir, Babae Po Ako”. He said: “Paano?!?”Im sharing this not for pity but so you know how we struggle with this on an everyday basis na actually Ive learned na palampasin nalang kasi wala namang #SOGIE Equality bill to protect us. Na minsan, matatahimik nalang talaga tayo. Na minsan its OK FOR ME JUST TOSAY IM A WOMAN. I just hope for the best. And thanks for friends who can continue to fight for you kahit alam naming walang laban.Location: MRT Ayala Station
Posted by Mikki Galang on Saturday, September 8, 2018
In a video posted last September 6 on Facebook by Mikki Galang, she claimed that two security guards approached her in the platform of MRT-3 Ayala Station and questioned her gender preference.
“In this video (taken) by @martinjohnandrade was the first part when 2 security guards approached me and said ‘Bawal Po Lalaki Dito’. I said ‘Sir, Babae Po Ako’. He said: ‘Paano?!?’,” she said in her post.
According to Galang, she shared her experience inside the MRT-3 to raise awareness about the struggles of transgender people in the country.
“I’m sharing this not for pity but so you know how we struggle with this on an everyday basis, na actually I’ve learned na palampasin nalang kasi wala naming #SOGIE Equality bill to protect us. Na minsan matatahimik nalang talaga tayo. Na minsan it’s OK FOR ME JUST TO SAY I’M A WOMAN,” she said. /kga