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After long commute, Panelo insists no transport crisis, just 'traffic crisis'

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Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/10/11/panelo.jpg"/></figure></div><p>MANILA - Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo maintained his position Friday that there was no mass transport crisis plaguing Filipino commuters, even after it took him 4 hours to get to work in Malacañang from his home in Marikina City.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/08/19/palace-says-no-transport-crisis-in-metro-manila">Palace says no transport crisis in Metro Manila</a></li></ul><div> </div><p>Despite the flak he received from left-leaning groups and some commuters, the Palace spokesman stood by his position that what travelers are facing is a traffic problem and not a paralysis of public transportation.</p><p>“Mayroong traffic crisis pero hindi transportation crisis kasi when you say transportation crisis wala ka ng sinasakyan, paralyzed ang buong traffic,” he told reporters.</p><p>(There is a traffic crisis but not a transportation crisis because when you say transportation crisis, it means you cannot get a ride anymore and that the whole traffic is paralyzed.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/08/19/no-transport-crisis-panelo-draws-flak-for-denial">No transport crisis? Panelo draws flak for denial</a></li></ul><p>Panelo on early Friday morning rode 4 jeepneys and hitched a motorcycle ride to Malacañang as he took on a challenge by militant groups to take public transportation.</p><p>“Kaya ko lang tinanggap yung hamon kasi nga parang pinapalabas nila na kaming mga nasa puwesto ngayon hindi naming kaya gawin yun. Pinasinungalingan ko lang sila,” he said.</p><p>(I only accepted the challenge because they are trying to make it appear that we can’t do it. I only belied their claims.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/19/panelo-rides-jeepney-as-he-takes-commute-challenge">Panelo’s 4-hour Metro commute: jeepney and motorcycle rides</a></li></ul><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/10/11/20191011-traffic.jpg"/><figcaption>Commuters take advantage of free rides in buses provided by MMDA at LTFRB from Cubao, Quezon City to Masinag, Antipolo. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The Duterte spokesman insisted that going through a commute challenge is unnecessary since he is already aware of the traffic problem, noting that he cannot be “oblivious” to daily commuter woes.</p><p>“You don’t even have to go through that, we know that. You know why? Kahit nasa kotse ka nakikita mo yan eh (you can see that even from inside a vehicle),” he said.</p><p>“You don’t even have to feel pain when you see pain there,” he added.</p><div><strong> ON TELLING COMMUTERS TO WAKE UP EARLY</strong></div><p>Panelo also clarified that he only meant to praise the “creativity” of Filipino commuters when he told them to wake up early to arrive at their destination on time.</p><p>“We’re a very creative people. We have a hostile environment but we don’t just sit down and wallow in misery. We do something about it,” he said.</p><p>“That is not insensitive. That is in fact a statement praising the creativity of Filipinos,” he added.</p><p>He however clarified that Filipinos cannot rely on their creativity alone in addressing the traffic crisis.</p><p>“It cannot be permanent. It cannot be constant, we have to change that,” he said.</p>

<p>Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo maintained his position Friday that there was no mass transport crisis plaguing Filipino commuters, even after it took him 4 hours to get to work in Malacañang from his home in Marikina City.</p>

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo maintained his position Friday that there was no mass transport crisis plaguing Filipino commuters, even after it took him 4 hours to get to work in Malacañang from his home in Marikina City.

After long commute, Panelo insists no transport crisis, just 'traffic crisis'

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After long commute, Panelo insists no transport crisis, just 'traffic crisis'

Arianne Merez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 11, 2019 03:13 PM PHT

Read More:

Salvador Panelo

Malacañang

commute challenge

transportation

mass transport crisis

traffic crisis

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