Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the president of the Philippines, has received backlash for utilizing a presidential helicopter to travel to a Coldplay concert in the northern part of Manila, avoiding the city’s infamous traffic congestion.
On social media, numerous individuals criticized the president for squandering taxpayers’ funds and highlighted the fact that the general public must endure Manila’s notorious daily traffic while commuting.
The Presidential Security Group reported that the Philippine Arena was faced with an unexpected surge of 40,000 people who were eagerly attending a concert, causing unexpected traffic issues along the route.
According to the statement, the traffic condition presented a possible danger to the safety of our president.
Activist Renato Reyes expressed the ruling as a “serious offense” to countless Filipino commuters, stating that Metro Manila was rated as having the most severe traffic according to a recent global survey. He also stated, “We are dealing with a crippling transportation crisis that has resulted in horrendous traffic and distressing commutes for the average person.”
At Coldplay’s concert, lead singer Chris Martin made a joke about the heavy traffic in Manila and expressed gratitude to the crowd for persevering. He stated, “We’ve encountered some traffic, but I believe you have the top spot for that in the world. Thank you for enduring all of that hassle to be here.”
According to the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index, Metro Manila has been declared as the slowest metropolitan area among 387 cities and 55 countries. The index reports that it takes an average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds to travel a distance of 10km (six miles) within the capital region.
In an article for the Philippine Star, Ana Marie T Pamintuan stated that the severe traffic conditions, which caused the first couple to resort to using a helicopter, may finally prompt the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to acknowledge the fact that the Philippine capital region has the most congested traffic among other metropolitan areas in the world.
Pamintuan stated that for older individuals, the event brought back memories of Marcos’ parents. Marcos Sr, who was a dictator, ruled the Philippines for 20 years and his family, who were known for their lavish lifestyle, were accused of embezzling billions of dollars.
Some individuals noted that Marcos Jr’s means of transportation differed from Coldplay’s overall efforts to minimize carbon emissions during their performances. As stated on their website, Coldplay has implemented the use of renewable energy for their shows and utilizes electric vehicles and alternative fuels whenever feasible.
One user on X expressed frustration over Coldplay’s efforts to promote sustainability during their tour and their attempts to implement it in the Philippines, only for someone to fly in a helicopter, potentially funded by public funds.
Source: theguardian.com
