(Eagle News) — A young congressman has filed a bill requiring public officials to commute to and from work at least once every month so they can “empathize with the riding public,” among others.
Under House Bill 6195 filed by Aangat Tayo Partylist Rep. Neil Abayon “elected and appointed public officials and civil servants in national and local government offices with the rank of (or equivalent to) division chief to department secretary” are enjoined to “ride the public land transport to and from work and for official business at least once every calendar month during weekday rush hours.”
Under the proposal, these high-ranking officials are required to use “each of the various modes that are operating in the geographical area they reside and work in” such as passenger buses, commuter trains, light rail transit, taxis, transport network vehicles, public utility jeepneys and tricycles.
The bill also “sets economy class as the mode of all air travel of all elected and appointed public officials and civil servants in national and local government offices regardless of rank.”
Exemptions
Those who may be exempted from the sea, air and land travel are those with “actual existing physical handicap or serious mental conditions” but these have to be certified by a licensed practising medical specialist.
He said the President, Vice President, Chief Justice and justices of the Supreme Court “may also voluntarily set aside the (exemption) but they may be accompanied by a personal security team whose number and members…by the Presidential Security Group and by the Philippine National Police Office responsible for security details of very important personalities.”
He said these units will also be in charge of the security measures in place.
Empathy, compassion
In filing the bill, the 29-year-old solon noted that public service, in the first place, “requires empathy and concerns for the people being served.”
“Public service improves when it is rendered with empathy and compassion. Public service requires living modestly and does not mean entitlement to perks such as business class and first-class accommodations with airlines,” he said.
He added that “the personal, firsthand experience of riding public transportation will enable legislators to gain real-world perspectives and (provide) inputs in aid of legislation.”