Senate defers hearing on emergency powers bill

MANILA, Philippines – Without a list of projects that the government intends to implement, the Senate committee on public services decided yesterday to defer its hearings on the proposed grant of emergency powers to President Duterte to address traffic problems in the country.

“The executive branch is in a hurry to pass the emergency powers bill, but based on our hearings, we have learned that the (Department of Transportation) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have yet to come up with concrete projects under the emergency powers bill,” Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the committee, said.

But Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters after his speech at the general membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) in Makati City yesterday that his department would submit today the list of projects and other documents related to the bill that the Senate was asking.

“I think those who attended there (Aug. 25 Senate hearing) promised to give it in two weeks. That is too long. (It should be) this week,” Tugade said.

While waiting for the DOT, Poe said the committee would conduct consultative technical working group meetings to fast-track the crafting of solutions that would address the traffic and transport problems in the country.

In its past two hearings, the committee heard the proposals of urban planners and the transport and commuter groups. Poe expects the DOT to incorporate suggestions from stakeholders.

“Under the proposed emergency powers bill, (the administration is) given only two to three years leeway. Hopefully such leeway will not be spent on mere planning,” Poe said, adding the government must also be able to present a plan on how traffic problems would be solved in case the proposal would not be passed.

Tugade, for his part, gave assurance the submissions would include the projects to be implemented, costs to be incurred and roles to be performed by the agencies.

Duterte is asking Congress to grant emergency powers to solve the country’s traffic crisis both on the streets and at airports.

During his speech, Tugade asked MAP members to help him convince Congress to grant the emergency powers to solve traffic.

An average Filipino spends more time waiting for transportation when going to and from work, and the economy is losing about P2.4 billion per day due to traffic, Tugade said.

He also reiterated the need for a uniform and single authority for traffic to address the current problems, which could be implemented if emergency powers were granted.

“You cannot do that under present setup because it is covered by provisions of laws,” he said.

On concerns the emergency powers might be abused, he said such would be subject to certain conditions.

In particular, the emergency powers will only be in place for two years, have oversight from Congress and be compliant to the Freedom of Information Act.

As for opening private subdivisions to traffic, Tugade said such would not be done on a 24-hour basis but only when necessary.

“I hope they (Congress) see the reality that this is really an emergency and the faster you give it, the more time you will give us. The more you delay, you remove our fighting chance,” he said.