LTO Chief commits himself, officers to also use public transportation

Yesterday, Acting Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez released a memorandum requiring DOTr officials to take public transportation at least once a week. The goal is to put officials in the commuters’ shoes, allowing them to experience firsthand the daily grind on buses, trains, and jeepneys.

By going through this immersion, the department hopes to gather honest feedback and craft solutions that actually address the real struggles of the riding public. This memo also includes DOTr’s attached agencies, like the LTO.

LTO Assistant Secretary, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said that the initiative is a great chance for agency heads, himself included, to ride with commuters and give frank feedback that could help shape real improvements in public transport.

“Magandang experience ito para sa lahat (this is a good experience for everyone) and through this, we are optimistic that we could come up with the best measures to improve the public transportation system in the country,” said Mendoza. “And the best part is that we in the DOTr will be at the frontlines through personal experience for us to really experience what we implement, and practice what we preach.”

At the LTO, the directive leaves no room for exemption, covering the Chief down to the Assistant Regional Directors, with Mendoza confirming it has already been relayed to all concerned heads. He also added that a supplemental order will soon expand the scope further to include District and Satellite Office heads, ensuring every level of leadership experiences firsthand what commuters go through daily.