CAPAS, Tarlac, Philippines — Now is the time to act on issues that continue to burden Filipinos and stop the various challenges being issued to public officials, House Speaker Alan Cayetano said Wednesday.

“The challengers or the people who made the challenge has made their point. We hear you loud and clear. Now is the time to act and stop itong mga (these) challenge challenge,” the Taguig-Pateros representative said in an interview after his inspection at the New Clark City sports hub in this town for the 30th Southeast Asian Games in November.

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“Hindi naman pwedeng araw-araw we (can’t) just keep (on) challenging each other sa (on) traffic lang everyday. Because we also have to challenge each other sa agriculture, sa health, sa education. But ang (the) point is ‘yung mga plano nakalatag (the plans are in place),” he added, while also acknowledging that the dares have raised public awareness on issues.

Cayetano, who chairs the organizing committee of the SEA Games, admitted that foreign delegates may experience heavy traffic during their stay for the competition. But he argued this could be a sign of a nation’s success.

“It’s no excuse but the irony is traffic kasi is also a product your own success eh. Pag maganda ekonomiya, may pambili ng sasakyan ang mga tao and then sa Pilipinas about half ng binibiling private na sasakyan sa Metro Manila napupunta (If the economy is good a lot of people can afford cars and majority of these vehicles are in Metro Manila),” the former senator said.

“That’s why nag-iinvest ang gobyerno sa (the government is investing on) subway system, sa bagong (new) railway system, sa monorail at saka sa BRT (Bus Rapid Transit),” he added.

Cayetano added that among government’s efforts to decongest Metro Manila was to urbanize provinces and spread quality basic social services in far-flung areas.

Last Friday, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo accepted the challenge of groups to commute from Marikina City to the Malacañang complex in Manila after he repeatedly denied that the metropolis is facing a “mass transportation crisis.”

READ: Early riser, jeepney rider Panelo still 46 minutes late for work

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes had concluded that a “mass transport crisis” is gripping Metro Manila after the three major railways of the metropolis — MRT-3 and LRT Lines 1 and 2– were bogged down by glitches last October 2-3.

READ: Panelo tells public to ‘be creative’ as he rides jeepney to Malacañang

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Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao meanwhile suggested over the weekend that public officials be required to take public transportation every Monday to help “ease traffic congestion and vehicle volume on the roads of Metro Manila.”

Aside from commuting every Monday, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas also said she wants public officials, especially senators and congressmen, to have a minimum wage just like most Filipino workers in the country.

READ: Aside from commuting, solon says public officials should get minimum wage

On Tuesday, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Rep. Jericho Nograles also challenged public officials, especially from local government units, to try using a wheelchair and experience the difficulties of persons with disabilities and elderly in accessing buildings and public transportation. /muf

READ: Solon dares public execs to use wheelchairs to see poor state of accessibility in PH

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