MANILA, Sept. 15 -- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Monday directed all road and rail officials to take public modes of transportation from their homes to their offices at least once a week.

Lopez said the order is meant to ensure that DOTr officials are aware of the needs of commuters.

"Itong mga opisyal natin sa road at rail sector, sila talaga 'yung mga dapat lumalabas lagi kasi karamihan ng ating mga proyekto ay nasa mga sektor na ito (Officials in the road and rail sector, they're the ones who need to go outside because most projects are in this sector)," he said in a statement.

A memorandum signed by Lopez on Monday covers the undersecretary and assistant secretary for road transport and non...