No problem on commuting once a week if it’s to share sympathy, Panelo says

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo accepts a dare and hits the streets on Friday as a jeepney passenger en route to Malacañang. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Palace Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday said he has no problem in commuting once a week as long as its purpose is to share sympathy with commuters.

But if its purpose is to let public officials experience commuting, Panelo said it is no longer needed.

“Kung ang purpose lang nun ay para maranasan ng mga opisyales [magcommute] e gaya ng sinabi ko, hindi kailangan yun,” Panelo said during a press briefing.

(If its purpose is to make officials experience commuting, it is no longer needed.)

“Pero kung ang purpose mo every now and then magshare ka sa sympathy, walang problema din kami don,” he added.

(But if its purpose is to share sympathy, we have no problem with that.)

Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao earlier bared plans to file a bill mandating public officials, Cabinet secretaries and division chiefs of government offices to take public transportation on Mondays.

Siao said he drew inspiration from Panelo who took public transportation to Malacañang on Friday, a “commute challenge” which lasted almost four hours.

READ: Commute challenge draws mixed reactions

READ: Panelo took 4 jeepney rides, almost 4 hours in commute challenge to Malacañang

Panelo reiterated that Cabinet members, including him, have experienced the struggles of commuting.

“Gaya ng sinabi ko, kaming nasa members ng cabinet, pinaglakihan na namin yung pagsakay ng bus, ng jeepney at tricycle… So lahat kami dyan dinaanan na namin yan,” he said.

(Like what I said, we, Cabinet members, grew up riding buses, jeepneys and tricycles… All of us went through that.) /jpv