Nanawagan si Senador Grace Poe na kailangang higpitan ang monitoring ng lokal na operasyon ng Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Ito ay matapos punahin ng ilang grupo ng LGBTQ+ community ang pagkakaroon ng priority lane para sa mga LGBTQ+ sa Cagayan Valley na ipinag-utos ng LTO na isara. Ayon kay LTO chief Jay Art Tugade, isa itong isolated case.

“While we can suppose the intention was good, a regional LTO’s decision to include LGTBQ+ in the priority lane appeared to be a lapse in judgment. Priority lanes are meant to give priority to those individuals who have certain difficulties that affect their physical capacity to take part in normal government processes such as falling in line,” pahayag ni Poe.

Dagdag rin niya na dapat pagbutihin ang pagkakaintindi ng inclusivity sa pagseserbisyo. Binanggit niya rin na ang pagtawag sa insidente na isang isolate case ay isang kabiguan sa administrative oversight ng LTO. 

“It is not the first time this happened. According to news reports, another District Office in the same region also dedicated a special lane for the LGBTQ+ together with senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women last Valentine’s Day,” ayon sa mambabatas.

Aniya, kinakailangan na pag-aralan muna nang mabuti ang mga polisiya sa gender sensitivity, inclusivity at pagkakapantay-pantay sa government services bago ito ilabas sa publiko.

“All policies on gender sensitivity, inclusivity, and equality for access to government services should be studied properly before rolling them out to the public. Our government agencies, especially those with front-line services like LTO, should ensure their compliance with anti-discriminatory policies,” giit ni Poe.

Photo credit: Facebook/LTOPhilippines