Cayetano pushes rain shelters, more trains in transport planning
With rains from Tropical Depression Maymay and the southwest monsoon disrupting travel in parts of the country, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is urging government agencies to make rain shelters, commuter safety, and mass transport part of long-term infrastructure planning.
In a Facebook livestream on August 7, 2026, Cayetano said the recent rains again showed a common problem faced by commuters and motorcycle riders, who often have no choice but to stop under bridges and other structures when heavy rain suddenly falls.
“Dahil dumagdag na talaga nang husto ang gumagamit ng motor, napakarami nating riders. Basta’t bumuhos y’ung ulan ay sisilong sa ilalim ng tulay. Napaka-importante sa lalong madaling panahon kasama na sa ating planning yan,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano said the idea of providing designated shelters for riders and commuters had already been raised by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and suggested that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) consider integrating it into their own planning.
The senator said roads and transportation systems should be designed with actual commuter conditions in mind.
“In making our roads and travel safer and more comfortable, kailangan proactive talaga tayo,” he said.
He recalled how travel infrastructure was planned decades ago with stops and basic facilities in mind, saying similar foresight should now be applied to today’s transportation needs.
Cayetano also called for greater investment in mass transport as the number of vehicles on Philippine roads continues to grow.
The senator said he was raising the issue now because the government is preparing to submit the national budget, stressing that infrastructure decisions made today should account for problems that Filipinos are already experiencing.
“Dapat hindi natin inuulit ang ating pagkakamali,” he said.
Cayetano acknowledged the difficulties facing the country but said there is a shared desire to see conditions improve.
“Our country, our economy is in bad shape, but I think every single leader wants that to change and wants better for our country,” he said.
Filipino Version
Cayetano: Rain shelters, mas maraming tren kailangan sa transport planning
Hinikayat ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang pamahalaan na isama sa long-term infrastructure plans ang mga rain shelter para sa commuters at motorcycle riders.
Sa isang Facebook livestream nitong August 7, sinabi ni Cayetano na muling nakita sa mga nagdaang pag-ulan ang problema ng mga rider at commuter na napipilitang sumilong sa ilalim ng mga tulay at iba pang istruktura kapag biglang bumuhos ang ulan.
“Dahil dumagdag na talaga nang husto ang gumagamit ng motor, napakarami nating riders. Basta’t bumuhos y’ung ulan ay sisilong sa ilalim ng tulay. Napaka-importante sa lalong madaling panahon kasama na sa ating planning yan,” wika ng senador.
Sinabi ni Cayetano na nabanggit na rin ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ang pagtatayo ng mga lugar na maaaring silungan ng mga rider at commuter. Hinikayat niya ang Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na isama rin ito sa kanilang pagpaplano.
Para kay Cayetano, dapat nakabatay ang pagpaplano ng mga kalsada at sistema ng transportasyon sa aktuwal na pangangailangan ng mga gumagamit nito.
“In making our roads and travel safer and more comfortable, kailangan proactive talaga tayo,” sabi niya.
Aniya, hindi dapat naghihintay ang pamahalaan na lumitaw muna ang problema bago gumawa ng solusyon. Sa halip, kailangan nang isaalang-alang sa pagpaplano pa lamang ang mga pangangailangan ng commuters, riders, at iba pang biyahero.
Nanawagan din si Cayetano ng mas maraming mass transport, partikular na mga tren, habang patuloy na dumarami ang mga sasakyan sa mga kalsada.
Sinabi niyang napapanahon ang usapin dahil inihahanda na ang national budget, kaya dapat matiyak na ang mga pondong ilalaan sa imprastraktura ay tumutugon sa mga problemang nararanasan na ng mga Pilipino.
“Kaya ako sinasabi ngayon po kasi isa-submit ang national budget at saka sinasabi talaga na dapat hindi natin inuulit ang ating pagkakamali,” sabi ni Cayetano.
Binigyang diin din niya na ang pagpapalakas ng mass transport ay dapat maging bahagi ng solusyon sa lumalaking pangangailangan sa biyahe.
Sa gitna ng mga hamon sa bansa, sinabi ni Cayetano na kailangan ang pagtutulungan upang mapabuti ang kalagayan ng ekonomiya at ng mga Pilipino.
“Our country, our economy is in bad shape, but I think every single leader wants that to change and wants better for our country,” wika niya.
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