Press Release
April 22, 2010

Loren rides MRT, promotes mass transportation as fastest
and eco-friendly way to travel

NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Senator Loren Legarda yesterday rode the MRT to promote mass transportation as the fastest and eco-friendly way to travel.

Loren was on her way to an interview with QTV's Tonight with Arnold Clavio from Muntinlupa, and opted to ride the MRT to avoid congested traffic in Metro Manila. She and her son Leandro Antonio will be featured when the show airs on Friday at 8:15pm.

"People were surprised when they saw me in the MRT. Ako naman, I'm practical, we want to get to there on time, we want to avoid the heavy traffic. If we traveled by car, we'd be one hour, two hours late," Loren said.

According to Loren, "the MRT and LRTs are a cheap, eco-friendly and safe way to travel. It helps ease traffic congestion and cut carbon emissions." "Public transportation such as the MRT should be enhanced and extended to other areas to encourage more commuters to take the train rather than opt for private vehicles," said Loren.

She also urged the effective implementation of the Clean Air Act, a law she has authored to improve the quality of air in the country. The law calls for emission tests and phasing out of two-stroke engines. It fines owners and drivers of motor vehicles found to be violating emission standards. "Air pollution kills 2,000 pinoys every year. This wouldn't have happened had the Clean Air Act been implemented more strictly. And if we don't do anything to start improving the quality of air in the country, especially in the cities, we'd be seeing more and more Filipinos die prematurely from respiratory illnesses," warned Loren.

Loren said she had fun riding the MRT, which turned into an impromptu campaign. "Nakikipagsiksikan ako sa mga tao sa MRT, and then I saw this pretty girl, Cookie, who said she was a jazz singer. I asked her to sing, and all of a sudden people were singing and humming along and we had a nice time."

A staunch environmentalist, Loren has authored landmark laws protecting the environment, such as such as the Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) and Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729).

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