Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo downplayed the traffic situation in Metro Manila as a crisis that the government needs to resolve.
Panelo also insisted that people can still get rides going to their destination so it could not be called a crisis.
Panelo said during a press briefing, “Ano bang ibig nilang sabihin na transportation crisis? Ang nakikita ko lang traffic.. May transportation naman, nakakasakay naman tayo lahat. Kasi nga nakakarating pa naman ‘yung mga dapat makarating sa kanilang pupuntahan.”
Moreover, Panelo said that people should just leave home early to avoid arriving late to their desired destinations.
“May solusyon naman doon. If you want to arrive early in your destination, then you go there earlier.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWHRugU4ABg
These statements of Panelo has forced 32-year-old comedienne Ethel Booba to decide to transfer the ‘Booba’ title to the presidential spokesperson.
Besh @imrufamaequinto pasa na natin yung name na BOOBA. Talo na tayo. Charot! https://t.co/owXzq8pxpV
— Charot! (@IamCharotism) October 8, 2019
Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) criticized Panelo for his statement and stated it is obviously a sign of ignorance of the sufferings of fellow Filipinos.
“It only shows that Panelo obviously has no knowledge of the lives of the commuter and mass transport crisis. He knows nothing about the daily sufferings of people bearing miserable public transport conditions.”
BAYAN strongly opposed Panelo’s advice to leave even earlier in order to arrive at a destination on time.
“You can arrive at your destination but you are nearly shredded into pieces. A lot of people are leaving houses so early just to get on time at their offices or schools. Malacanang has no solution, so what it just does is to deny the existence of the problem.”
These are some of the netizens’ reaction to Panelo:
Yun na nga problema. ALAM MO NA NGA, DINIDENY MO PA NA MERON. Nagbubulag bulagan ka. Andyan na problema pero inaayos niyo ba? Sinasbi niyo sa amin na OK LANG YAN DHL NAKAKARATING PA NAMAN KMI SA DESTINATION NAMIN DIBA? 🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻
— 👽🩶🎧 (@maryey8123) October 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/baby_cow22/status/1181820948564992000
#SalvadorPanelo deserves a high five to the face with a brick.
Magcommute ka for a week lang, para malaman mo ang hirap ng mga ordinaryong Pilipino. Kami na ang nagpapasuweldo sa 'yo, ganyan pa ang sagot mo OGAG 🖕🏼— вrαєluríє 💜🐼 (@braelurie) October 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/manuelswift23/status/1181541895543017478
