EDITORIAL - Discipline for change can start now

There is one thing that all Filipinos can do right away without waiting for Rodrigo Duterte, the country's next president, to make them do it. And that is to be self-disciplined. If Filipinos try to practice discipline in everything they do, it will make for a more peaceful and orderly environment that may even no longer require the strong-armed tactics that Duterte has threatened to use to achieve the same purpose.

Take for instance the chaos that has descended on almost every street in the country's urban centers. Among the largest contributors to this chaos are public transportation drivers. In their desire to make as much as they can from a riding public that is increasingly shrinking from competition and the ability of people to buy their own cars, these drivers are driven to take chances with existing traffic rules and driving regulations.

When they do that, out the window flies discipline. Now, it might be interesting to know that in the last election, Duterte proved quite strong in the public transport sector. Duterte had a very wide following among jeepney, bus and taxi drivers. Perhaps because of his simple, down-to-earth and unassuming style, Duterte became their champion.

But lest this particular sector forget, Duterte himself is a self-proclaimed stickler for discipline. He is not just a disciplinarian. He is in fact called the punisher, which conjures up far more fearsome connotations. This particular sector should not wait until June 30 to find out how their champion intends to carry out his agenda on discipline.

Lest they wake up on the wrong side of the interpretation, it is best for the public transport sector to forego any plans, if ever, of waiting for Duterte to actually assume office before testing the waters. Public transport drivers should expect the worst, which is that Duterte is carrying out his threat of discipline to the letter.

For sure, the new president will be faced with so many problems, so many concerns. But public transport issues are among the most readily visible and palpable. They will be hard to miss. For even if Duterte himself will not be looking, that so many millions of Filipinos depend on public transportation everyday means there will be millions of pairs of eyes watching.

Not that Duterte will embark on a killing spree over the lack of discipline in the streets. Lack of discipline in city streets does not require extreme measures. But Duterte can be very hard and tough on those who lack discipline. He can come down hard on those who give him headaches. So if the public transport sector truly supports Duterte and believes in his plans for change, maybe it can start with a little discipline within the ranks.