(The Philippine Star) | Updated June 22, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines –
Calls for emergency powers for president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to help him
address Metro Manila’s traffic and transportation woes have gained support from
businessmen and lawmakers.
As this developed, incoming
justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday said they have completed a
draft bill granting Duterte emergency powers.
“Without the emergency
powers, the transportation department would have a difficult time to implement
extensive reforms,” he stressed in an interview.
“Without it, we will
surely end up in courts and TROs (temporary restraining orders) could delay the
solutions. This could lead us to resorting once more to band aid solutions,” he
pointed out.
The proposed emergency
powers, to take effect for two years, would allow the national government to
ignore injunction orders as well as ordinances against measures aimed at easing
traffic.
Based on the draft
bill, direct contracting for transport-related projects would be allowed.
Roads in some
subdivisions may also be opened to traffic and major streets cleared of
illegally parked vehicles, vendor stalls and other obstructions.
Incoming transportation
secretary Arthur Tugade may be sent to China to discuss with Chinese leaders a
possible railway project that could decongest traffic.
Duterte said China
offered to undertake the project before the 2016 polls.
“Even before the
election, the ambassador, the woman, said ‘we will do the railway immediately.’
She said immediately. We will start immediately,” Duterte said.
It was not clear who
Duterte was referring to, but the last female Chinese ambassador was Ma Keqing.
“Art Tugade has to go
to China not to talk about war and irritation but talk about peace and how
(China can) help us,” he added.
In a statement, the
Makati Business Club (MBC) said it acknowledges the need for urgent action to
untangle the traffic mess that has stymied the flow of commerce not only in
Metro Manila but in the entire country as well.
The MBC emphasized,
however, that such emergency powers should be guided by principles of
people-oriented mobility and transparency, and “that the private sector and
civil society should be provided with a substantial role in implementation and
monitoring.”
“MBC believes that the
nation does face a transportation crisis, which needs urgent action and
solutions. The Makati Business Club stands ready to assist and be an active
participant in a highly thorough process of consultation, debate and analysis
between government and the private sector,” the business group said.
A 2012 study by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency revealed Metro Manila’s traffic gridlock
costs the economy at least P3 billion or $64 million a day.
“The Makati Business
Club recognizes that the last few years have been characterized by a surge in
the demand for mobility, seen by the increasing number of motor vehicles on the
road and more domestic and international trips for social, business or tourism
purposes,” the group said.
“This massive mobility
gap continues to cause great damage to both the economy and the quality of life
of our people, illustrated, according to studies, by the billions of pesos of
productivity losses per day and the unquantifiable health risks and social
costs brought about by congestion and long commutes,” the MBC added.
The local automotive
industry has long been calling for better public infrastructure and public
transportation, saying the rising demand for vehicles should not necessarily
entail the worsening of traffic.
“Cars are really
becoming a necessity and you cannot stop it. We just have to improve our
infrastructure. It is true traffic these days is worse, so it’s really a sign
we should do something about our roads,” Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of
the Philippines Inc. president Rommel Gutierrez said.
“No matter what you do,
you cannot stop people from buying cars. After the house, and for many people,
ahead of the house, cars are a top priority because of mobility. The reason
people buy cars is because there is no public transport,” Federation of
Automotive Industries of the Philippines president Vicente Mills Jr. added.
Fast solution
Senators have
also expressed openness to arming Duterte with emergency powers to tackle Metro
Manila’s traffic and transport problems.
“Yes, because people
are really looking forward to that problem’s immediate solution,” said Sen.
Aquilino Pimentel III, who is emerging as the next Senate president.
Outgoing Senate
President Franklin Drilon said he is amenable to the idea but “would like to
see the specific powers to be granted” to the incoming president.
“I believe the next
president should be granted emergency powers by Congress because traffic in
mega Manila and other urban areas like Cebu City and even Davao City can
already be considered as a crisis,” senator-elect Panfilo Lacson said.
“Because of traffic and
if the government will not intervene, the losses could reach as high as P6
billion by 2030,” Lacson added.
“What should be studied
carefully is the kind of emergency powers that will be granted and the length
of time it would be exercised,” he said.
Sen. Grace Poe said it
is about time the national government recognizes the traffic problem in Metro
Manila and treat it as a matter of national interest.
“I am confident that
the Senate will be supportive of this need for a whole of government approach
through legislated additional executive powers to address a problem that has
become a national concern,” Poe said.
“We are well aware of
the need to expedite the process from procurement to acquisition of rights of
way which invariably delay the start if not the completion of projects. I
personally support the initiative but I would also like to find out as soon as
possible the details or terms of the emergency powers they have in mind so we
can hit the ground running as soon as session starts,” she added.
Make it clear
Speaker Feliciano
Belmonte Jr. said emergency powers for Duterte would be helpful but should be
clearly spelled out.
He said Metro Manila’s
traffic congestion “is a real problem and has many causes, including lack of
discipline from motorists.”
“Yes, let’s give him
the emergency powers, but let’s be very specific in what the emergency powers
consist of,” Belmonte told reporters after leading the inauguration of the
House library and museum building. –
With Alexis Romero, Edu Punay, Marvin Sy,
Paolo Romero, Robertzon Ramirez, Mike Frialde
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