Duterte may get emergency powers to fix traffic soon —ally

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, the defeated running mate of President Rodrigo Duterte, expects Congress to grant the emergency powers to address the traffic crisis in Metro Manila to the chief executive by September.

"Sana before the end of September (a bill has been enacted already). That will be more than enough time for both Houses of Congress to put the proper safeguards," Cayetano said in a television interview on Friday.

"We should not over-complicate it. Everyday na hindi natin ibigay ang emergency powers, it's another day of traffic and gridlock," he added.

Cayetano authored the Senate Bill entitled "Freedom from Traffic and Congestion Act" that seeks to authorize the President and heads of executive agencies related to the transportation sector to use necessary resources and employ executive actions to resolve the crisis.

Cayetano called on his colleagues to fast-track the measure, noting that Congress had enacted within 12 days the measure granting emergency powers to former President Fidel V. Ramos to address the country's energy crisis then.

Also, Cayetano said he hopes national and local government units could harmonize their regulations to solve traffic congestion.

"There should only be one policy. In Metro Manila, for instance, may city na iba ang coding (system) sa MMDA, merong city na iba ang policies. Kaya kung ikaw ang driver, nakalilito talaga,” he said.

“So, in giving the President and the executive branch (emergency) powers, let us harmonize all procedures. Kapag sinabing sa main road walang tricycle, walang paparada, (it should be applicable to all)."

Likewise, Cayetano expects that the emergency powers would also lead to solving the traffic congestion in other highly urbanized areas, such as the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Metro Cebu.

"In many urban areas, in two to three years, the traffic situation could worsen. Huwag na nating antaying magka-problema pa saka natin gagamutin," he said. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/LBG, GMA News