Panelo won’t take on dare to take public transport to Malacañang

Presidential spokesman Secretary Salvador Panelo won't take on the Kilusang Mayo Uno's challenge for him to take public transportation on his way to Malacañang.

The militant labor group issued the dare after Panelo declared in Malacañang that there was no public transportation crisis; that commuters should only leave their homes early to get to their destinations on time.

“It's a silly challenge," President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said.

"As I said, the daily sufferance of commuters and motorists traversing the road in going to work and returning home or going elsewhere in Metro Manila, is a given,” he added.

“Whether you commute or drive, one is subjected to the same vexing inconvenience and delay, as well as the loss of precious time," Panelo said.

In a statement, KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis said Panelo was unaware of the traffic woes of commuters and the condition of the modes of transportation in Metro Manila, following Panelo's remark that there is no transportation crisis in NCR.

Panelo on Tuesday said that the public should adjust to the situation by allotting extra time for their travel.

"Tila hindi pa niya nararanasang mag-commute at bumiyahe nang rush hour gamit ang pampublikong transportasyon," Adonis said in a statement.

"Hinahamon namin siyang bumiyahe sa EDSA mula North EDSA o kaya mula Santolan papuntang Maynila, papunta at pauwi mula Malacañang para makita niya ang kalagayan ng ating mga kabababayan," he added.

"Paano’ng walang krisis sa transportasyon kung nagkandasira na ang mga tren, mahahaba ang pila sa mga istasyon, at siksikan at puro sabit sa mga jeep, at kandahirap ang ating mga kababayan papunta at pauwi sa trabaho o eskuwela," Adonis said. —NB, GMA News