‘Wang wang’ ban would force traffic experience on public officials –Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said public officials should not be allowed to use sirens or “wang wang,” or even have police escorts, for them to truly understand the country’s transportation woes.

“Sobrang insulto ‘yun, ‘yung mga wang wang, kasi parang sinasabi mo, “‘Yung mga lakad niyo hindi importante, lakad ko lang ‘yung importante,’” she said on her radio program.

“‘Pag parating ganito ‘yung kalakaran ng government officials, papaano mo mararamdaman ‘yung bigat na dinadala ng ating mga kababayan?”

There have been instances where the vice president herself was made to stop and give way to a public official who had a police escort.

Robredo explained that not using sirens was a first step in understanding the public’s transportation problems.

“‘Yung next step, maramdaman niyo lang ‘yung hirap na dinadaanan sa pag-commute. HIndi lang ‘yung one day pero ‘yung araw araw na na gigising ka ng alas tres ng umaga tapos makakarating ka alas nuebe ng gabi,” she said.

In 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to continue former President Benigno Aquino III’s “no wang wang” policy. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News