By Deighton Acuin

Netizens, especially supporters of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., are once again hitting the archrival former Vice President Leni Robredo. This time, for allegedly agreeing to Senator Robin Padilla’s cable car proposal.

Photo Courtesy by VP LENI MEDIA BUREAU / The Philippine Star

A Facebook post from Philippine Daily New Society claims that Robredo urged Filipinos to buy cars then attach it to a cable in reference with the neophyte senator’s suggestion.



“Iyong… iyong suggestion ni senator Robin Padilla na cable cars, para sa akin kasi, sang-ayon ako diyan. Napakaraming kable ng kuryente dito sa Metro Manila kaya kailangan nalang natin na bumili ng cars para isabit sa mga kable,” the quote card reads.

Netizens have quickly reacted to the post, here are some of the comments:

“May point naman siya, pointless nga lang,” a netizen said.

“Buti [na lang] mabait si Lord [hindi] napahamak Pinas sa Lugaw [na ito],” another comment said.

“Akalain mo naisip ni Leni yon! Ha! Ha! Ha! Sobra talaga ang galing nito!!” another Facebook user exclaimed.

“B*b* talaga, maraming cable pero cable ng internet connection at cable ng tv. Hindi ordinaryong cable lang ang para sa cable cars!!!!” another netizen claimed.

HOWEVER, THIS IS FALSE. Robredo has no statements released, thus far, regarding the cable car system proposal. The Facebook page is just a satirical page, meaning it is only a platform that releases contents without any context for the sake of engagements.

The said post has had a count of more than 1,000 reactions, 200 comments, and 200 shares as of the writing. 

Earlier, Padilla raised the suggestion of installing cable cars in Metro Manila roadways during the privilege speech of his fellow lawmaker JV Ejercito calling for the need of improving the country’s railway system.

“Nagustuhan ko po ito kaya’t ako’y nagtaas ng kamay at nagbigay ng pananalitang pagsuporta kay Senator Ejercito at kabalikat po nito ay ang pagmungkahi sa kanya ng paggamit ng cable car sa Metro Manila para sa pagtugon sa masamang kalagayan ng trapiko,” he said.

He added that the proposal has been approved by the preceding administrations and other countries have pledged their commitment to come up with the system- “Bakit ko po ito iminungkahi? Aprubado na po kasi ito ng dating administrasyon.”

Moreover, lawyer Rudolf Philip Jurado said that the cable car system has been approved by the transportation department and had endorsed the proposal to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). The project will cover Marikina and Pasig cities with an equivalent distance of 4.5 kilometers.

“Take note that the $100-million Marikina-Ortigas cable car project was approved by the Department of Transportation last year and was sent to NEDA for its approval. This Cable car project will ease the traffic in the eastern side of Metro Manila per studies of the DOTr,” Jurado said.

However, Architect Felino “Jun'' Palafox Jr. said cable cars can improve the metro’s traffic but will not pose complete solutions on it. He then noted that the proposal will be a great investment in the country.

“It will not, it will alleviate the situation, it will not solve the traffic. Kailangan lahat ng transportation modes tingnan na natin,” Palafox said in a TeleRadyo interview.\

“You know, P1 trillion a year, we are wasting on traffic...kaya, lahat po dapat ng ano, tingnan natin (we need to look at everything). Like yung subway, na-propose yan 1971 pa. Light Rail Transit, kami nagpropose niyan sa, World Bank-funded, Metropolitan Manila, I was the team leader, 1992 we should have completed 8 lines ng Light Rail Transit.”

“Ah, what can I say? Analysis paralysis, lack of continuity, we need strong political will, visionary leadership with appreciation of good urban planning, design like architecture and engineering. ‘Yun pong medyo kulang sa’tin po ‘no na meron sa ibang bayan po,” he added.