Metro Manila traffic just a ‘state of mind’

IT’S ALL in the mind, a transport official said of the country’s traffic situation.

It’s the Filipinos’ “state of mind” that actually worsens the country’s traffic situation, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade maintained on Tuesday, adding that using the traffic as a convenient excuse for tardiness has become a habit.

“Even when there (was) no traffic, (people say) there was,” the official scoffed during the launch of the premium bus service at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“A state of mind adds to the problem of traffic,” he stressed. “Let’s stop blaming traffic. If you’re late, that’s that.”

Tugade added: “One thing we will have to address in solving traffic: change your psyche. Change your psyche (that allows) you to every now and then use as a convenient excuse that one word: traffic.”

Advised the transport official: “On our own we should change. We must learn to tell the truth. Let’s teach ourselves (to be truthful). That will be a good start.”

Emergency powers

Tugade had previously asked Congress to grant emergency powers to President Duterte to resolve the traffic problem.

“We all know there is a traffic problem … (t)hat is why we are asking for emergency powers,” said Department of Transportation spokesperson Cherie Mercado.

“(But while) emergency powers will not solve everything in two or three years’ time, there are things that will be addressed right away and things that will be addressed (within the next) two years,” she added.

“Secretary Tugade’s and President Duterte’s type of leadership is basically ‘Let’s have a change of mindset.’ If we think that it’s always traffic and then we blame traffic (for being late), it’s our own (perception) that actually has (the effect of ) a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Mercado said.

“We would like to have the collective help of (all) Filipinos. Just having hope helps a lot, even in governance … . Let’s solve (the traffic problem) together. We’ll take care of the policies (and) implementation and you do the cooperation,” she added. –Jeannette I. Andrade