CNN —
Coldplay’s tour in the Philippines revolved around the legendary traffic in Manila. Frontman Chris Martin wrote a song about the “insane” jams, and the head of the nation faced criticism for using a helicopter to go to one of the band’s two shows outside of the capital.
According to images posted on social media, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and their group arrived by helicopter at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, north of Manila, on Friday.
Online critics slammed Marcos for failing to address mass transit issues and questioned why he was using taxpayer money to go to a concert.
For millions of Filipinos, who must endure hours of daily traffic, urban mobility has long been a problem. This is particularly true in the capital, where jeepneys, buses, taxis, private automobiles, and tricycles all vie for road space and the metro system is still in its infancy.
On the other hand, using small planes or private helicopters for transportation is a regular practice among corporate executives, politicians, and their families.
In a statement released on Saturday, Marcos’ security commander defended his mode of transportation in the face of intense criticism on the internet, citing “unforeseen traffic complications” that presented hazards to the president’s security.
Even Chris Martin, the frontman of Coldplay, acknowledged the traffic issue in Manila and thanked concertgoers for “coming through the traffic.”
According to videos that have gone viral on TikTok and X, he said, “We’ve seen some traffic, but I think you have the number one in the world,” as Marcos was seated in the throng.
Martin sang an improvised song about it the following night, saying, “There really is only one thing that remains.” Here in Manila, the traffic is just crazy.
Out of nearly 400 cities across 55 countries, Manila topped the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index ranking of metro areas with the slowest travel times.
Manila’s average rush-hour speed, according to the transportation-focused software startup, is 19 km/h (11 miles/h), with 52% of its highways experiencing congestion. Usually, it takes more than twenty-five minutes to cover merely 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).
I warn you if you want to drive anywhere. “A two-mile drive will take a week or two,” Martin said in the song as the audience applauded. “Give yourself about a year and a half if you want to get back home in time for your bath.”
The Department of Transport stated in a statement on Friday that it is working on road transport infrastructure projects with the goal of “improving commuter experience while addressing worsening traffic in highly urbanized areas,” in reference to the nation’s ranking on TomTom.
With the assistance of the business sector, we will work with the relevant agencies to expedite road construction, stated Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista.
This year, the Philippines will start replacing their diesel-powered jeepneys with minibuses. Additionally, it is constructing a public transportation train system, which the government-run Philippine News Agency claims would be operational by 2025.
