DOTr slams viral meme on Tugade’s traffic comment

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has debunked a viral meme on social media that misquoted Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade as saying that “traffic is just a state of mind”. (Photo: Arthur P. Tugade/Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has debunked a viral meme on social media that misquoted Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade as saying that “traffic is just a state of mind”.

DOTr denied that the transportation secretary made such statement and assured the public that it is doing all efforts to improve the transportation system in the country.

“The now viral meme of Sec. Tugade saying that traffic is just a state of mind was based on an old article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which is false, inaccurate, and malicious,” according to DOTr Public Information Office (PIO) Dir. Godess Hope Libiran.

“Secretary Arthur Tugade never said that “traffic is just a state of mind”. It was Inquirer that falsely and maliciously interpreted his words, even putting the statement in quotations as if the Secretary actually said them,” she added.

The exact statement of Sec. Tugade during the launching of the NAIA Premium buses on September 2016 was: “The prevailing Filipino psyche of using traffic as an excuse must be changed. That kind of state of mind that automatically uses traffic as an excuse, unnecessarily adds to the problem of traffic.”

The DOTr said the traffic situation in the country “is real that it requires serious solutions”.

“Rest assured that the government is working really hard to transform the state of transportation in the country at all fronts — road, air, maritime, and railways. The DOTr vows to deliver its commitment to bring back dignity in commuting, institute large-scale reforms, and build more transportation infrastructure,” Libiran said.

The transportation department urged the public to support its programs in easing traffic in the country.

“We urge the public to rally behind us. We urge the public to be part of the solution. We ask our people to always seek the truth, and go beyond pathetic memes, fake news, and propaganda,” Libiran added.