President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on motorists to learn to be patient while on the road, reminding them that driving comes with responsibility, not entitlement.
“Huwag maging kamote,” he said in his recent vlog, following the recent road rage in Antipolo, Rizal that led to violence and death.
Kamote is a Filipino slang term referring to reckless or undisciplined drivers.
The President lamented what he called a disturbing culture of machismo and aggression among motorists.
“Ang tatapang lahat, ang sisiga ng lahat. Ano na ba ang kultura na ito na pagiging siga sa daan?,” he said.
“Ano na ba ang nangyayari sa atin at parang natural lang ang mga ganitong komprontasyon at karahasan?,” he added.
“Ang lisensya sa pagmamaneho ay isang pribilehiyo at hindi ito karapatan,” he stressed.
President Marcos warned of the cost to families when people give in to anger.
“Lugi tayo at ang mga pamilya natin sa mga posibleng dapa nitong kapalit kung hahayaan nating hamunin tayo ng galit kahit isang saglit lamang,” he said.
While he admitted that traffic and reckless drivers are frustrating, the President reminded the public to just let things go.
“Pasensya na lang, palampasin niyo na lang, ano naman ang mawawala sa atin. One second, five seconds, 20 seconds, pagbigyan na natin at huwag na nating patulan,” he said.
“Ang lahat ay kailangang ayusin ang pag-uugali sa pagmamaneho at habaan ang pasensya,” he added.
Meanwhile, Marcos appealed to bystanders not to encourage violence.
“Umawat tayo, imbis na mag-video. Ituring na nating meron tayong tungkulin na panatilihin ang kapayapaan sa paligid natin,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)
