By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Richard Gordon on Saturday called for the conversion of public utility jeepneys to buses with scheduled trips in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the country's roads.
Senator Richard Gordon (CZAR DANCEL / MANILA BULLETIN)
Gordon raised the proposal after he described Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo's acceptance of the commute challenge as a waste of his time.
“’Yong jeeps, dapat convert na natin into buses para may oras, dahil pampadagdag sa traffic 'yan. Dapat may lane ang buses, may oras ang pagsakay (Jeeps should be converted into buses so they will have schedules, as jeepneys add up to the traffic. There should also be designated lanes for buses with scheduled trips),” Gordon said in an interview with radio DWIZ Saturday afternoon.
Government agencies should also enforce traffic rules, or come up with new ones – such as those that encourage ride-sharing, or varying work and school schedules, he said.
Gordon also renewed appeals to create new centers outside Metro Manila.
Gordon, however, maintained that there is no need for the grant of emergency powers. He said the President's men can do the job, anyway, as long as their plans are well-studied.
Displeased by Panelo’s act, Gordon said: “Alam mo, no-win situation ang ginawa ni Sal, eh. Alam naman niya na may traffic crisis, alam naman niya na may transportation crisis, kahit sumakay sya talo pa rin siya. Ang nangyayari tuloy parang pinaglalaruan siya (You know, what Sal did was a no-win situation. He knows that we have a traffic crisis and transportation crisis. Even if he commuted, he still lost the challenge. Now, it looks like they toyed with him).”
But Gordon said Panelo should relay his commute experience to President Duterte to come up with possible solutions to the transport and traffic issues.
To help ease traffic, Gordon renewed appeals to create new centers outside Metro Manila.