Akbayan Partylist welcomed the remarks of the new Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Vince Dizon on the need to extend the rail lines operating hours.

The party list previously called for the extension of the MRT and LRT operating hours to midnight to alleviate commuter woes.

According to Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña, “Natutuwa kami sa pinapakitang kabukasan ni Sec. Dizon sa ating panawagan na iextend na itong operating hours ng MRT at LRT para makinabang ang mga commuters, especially mga BPO and night shift workers. We hope that this change in tone from the transport department will lead to more improvements to our transportation system.”

“Hindi na pwede ang ‘pwede na’ para sa ating mga mananakay. Ayusin na sana natin ang ating transport sector para hindi pahirap ang pagcommute,” he added.

For his part, Akbayan First Nominee Atty. Chel urged the DOTr to institutionalize a citizens’ dialogue mechanism for the department to consult with stakeholders to better design transport systems in the country.

“The new DOTr leadership should see our commuters not only as end users but also as partners. Magandang opportunity ito para magkaroon ng regular na dayalogo ang ating transportation officials at ating mga mamamayan para direktang naipapaabot ang mga reklamo at suhestiyon ng mga mananakay,” he said.

Secretary Dizon’s statement differs from the previous DOTr leadership’s position, which opposed extending the operating hours of the MRT3 and LRT systems as “not feasible” as it would compromise the conduct of maintenance.

“A DOTr-Citizens’ dialogue will create a space for innovation that can spur new ideas to solve our country’s traffic woes without sacrificing the safety of the riding public,” he added.