Emergency powers needed against Christmas traffic – Andanar

President Rodrigo Duterte would be able to respond to the anticipated heavy traffic from the mall Christmas-rush only if he were granted emergency powers, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday.

"Hopefully nga maibigay 'yung emergency powers," Andanar said in a radio interview. "Isa naman 'to sa mga hiningi talaga ng ating pangulo at ng ating Kalihim ng Department of Transportation, at lalong-lalo na ngayong mga na panahon na ito." 

Senate Bill 11 or the proposed Transportation Crisis Act of 2016 would authorize President Duterte to reorganize the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies: the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Andanar hoped that the bill would be passed as early as the fourth week of November.

"Alam naman natin na Christmas is coming. May mga sale sa mall. Bawat Christmas season talaga lalo na 'yung mga November, December, papasok na 'yung Disyembre," the Communications secretary explained.

"Tatanggap na ng mga 13th month pay, bonus. So, mag-sa-shopping na talaga 'yan eh kasi ang Pilipino talagang isa sa mga pinakamalaking piyesta ng Pilipino ay Pasko."

But even without the bill's passage, Andanar was confident that traffic enforcers would be doing their jobs, especially in areas around malls.

"So we also expect our men and women from the MMDA, from DOTr to also ensure that we have traffic enforcers all over the metropolis lalong-lalo na 'yung mga dinadaanan ng mga mana -- motorista, mananakay na papuntang mall." — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News