Manila: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday welcomed Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez’s directive for high-level transport executives to commute once a week to ensure their awareness of the state of the country’s transportation system. In a statement, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said the memorandum issued by Lopez on Monday is a good feedback mechanism that would keep DOTr officials ‘in touch with the realities of public transportation.’
According to Philippines News Agency, the memorandum ordered top officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies, particularly in the road transport and rail sectors, to take public transportation at least once a week. The order includes the LTO chief down to the assistant regional directors. Mendoza emphasized that this experience is expected to yield positive measures to improve the public transportation system in the country and assured that the directive has been communicated to all relevant officials.
Moreover, Mendoza mentioned that a supplementary order will be issued to include the heads of District Offices and Satellite Offices. He highlighted the importance of personal experience in understanding and improving the transportation system, asserting, ‘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.’