The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade is now the center of controversy after saying last Tuesday, September 6, that Filipinos’ state of mind only worsens the traffic situation in the Philippines.

In the launching of the premium bus service at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, country’s top transport official Tugade stressed that Filipinos tend to blame traffic and use it as an excuse even if there was not thus only adds to the problem of traffic.

DOTC Sec Tugade added, that Filipinos should change their attitude the way they use traffic as an excuse and must learn to tell the truth.

Tugade submitted to the Senate a list proposed projects and bills on Monday, September 5, 2016. The bill is intended for solving the traffic crisis in Metro Manila granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte while the plans include project for the roads, rail and air transport sectors.

According to Senator Grace Poe, Chair on Public Services Committee, the proposed plan will only suspend the rights of the Land Transportation Authority (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other local government units thus making the DOTr the single authorized agency in handling the traffic problems.

The next full-blown public hearing on the DOTr’s proposal is set on September 22.