Rody keen on getting emergency powers for traffic crisis

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte is keen on getting congressional approval, possibly within the year, for the emergency powers mulled by his allies to address the traffic problem in the metropolis and other urban cities.

“I am sure they will facilitate everything in order to address the traffic condition,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing on Monday when asked about updates on the emergency powers.

Abella said Malacañang hopes the special powers might include giving the President the authority to enter into new contracts “as needed” with limited bidding procedures.

Abella said he is not privy to the specific authorities and plans to be given to the President but he is optimistic that all the concerns are considered.

“Regarding the specific plans, we don’t have that yet, but it will be pursued,” he said.

Duterte’s PDP-Laban partymate and likely Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III earlier said he and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez are coordinating with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to look into the parameters of the traffic emergency powers for the President.

Alvarez, incoming speaker of the House of Representatives, is eyeing the approval next month of the emergency powers that would allow the President to untangle traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

“Congress should approve the emergency powers within a month because traffic has already become a crisis,” Alvarez said yesterday in a radio interview.

The legislature convenes on July 25. Alvarez’s timeline means that the bill on emergency powers should be approved toward the end of next month.

“Traffic congestion in Metro Manila is a big problem. Bus terminals are scattered all over the metropolis. They are not concentrated in one area. We need mass transportation. The government has neglected the maintenance of the mass rail transport facilities,” Alvarez said.

He said part of the proposed emergency powers would deal with shortening the procurement process.

Detained former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Senate President Franklin Drilon have separately authored bills on the proposed special authority for Duterte to deal with the traffic problem.

“Our poor traffic management woes are mainly due to poor enforcement of traffic rules and the overlapping functions of government institutions,” Drilon said. – With Jess Diaz