House panel OKs bill granting emergency power to solve traffic crisis

The House of Representatives Committee on Transportation on Wednesday approved a measure giving emergency powers to remedy traffic woes in congested roads in the country.

During the resumption of its committee hearing, the panel approved House Bill 4334 or the Traffic Crisis Act of 2016 with 12 amendments.

Under the measure, the President, through the traffic chief, is authorized to enter into negotiated contracts for priority projects for teh construction, repair, restoration, rehabilitation, improvement or maintenance of critical infrastructure projects, facilities and any directly related procurement of goods and services.

The measure also prohibits any court, except the Supreme Court, from issuing any temporary restraining order against the bidding or procurement of priority projects, including infrastructure projetcs, software or IT components and attendant acquisition of the goods and consulting services as identified by the traffic czar.

Special traffic crisis courts shall also be created and would have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and expeditiously resolve all actions that may arise from the implementation of the measure.

A joint committee will also be formed composed of the Commission on Audit, the Civil Service Commission and the Ombudsman to hear complaints against public officials related to the implementation of the traffic measure.  The committee will also observe and monitor the implementation of the measure.

The President may also create a separate and permanent Department of Urban Traffic Management within the last 12 months immediately preceding the lapse of the proposed law.

Under the committee-approved measure, the traffic czar will have the authority to "pass upon and approve or disapprove all plans, programs, and projects proposed by local government units, offices agencies within the Metropolitan Area, the Department of Public Works and Highways, public corporations, and private persons or enterprises."

Such approval by the traffic czar shall take the form of a development permit that shall be issued prior to any land development and shall be in lieu of all other permits such as those issued by the Metro Manila Development Authority and the local government units.

The measure also requires the formation of a decongestion and transportation network reform plan for land-based traffic or a Traffic Management Plan (TMP), with the traffic czar formulating a separate TMP for each of the metropolitan areas.

Among the steps to by implemented under the TMP is the clearing of sidewalks and identification of areas to build elevated crosswalks that would be integrated to the designated PUV terminals and bus stops.

The TMP should also provide a system to expedite the reporting and clearing of vehicular accidents.

The measure also provides financial assistance and other social support services to drivers, driver's assistants, mechanics, and other employees of the PUV operators affected by a revocation or modification of franchise.

Upon identification, the employees shall be included and immediately classified as qualified persons under the conditional cash transfer program and other social protection programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Early hearings

After conducting a number of committee hearings on the matter last year, the House panel concluded that the traffic crisis is concentrated in metropolitan areas only, particularly in Metro Manila and in Metro Cebu and Davao City; and is limited to land transportation.

The emergency powers would be limited only to Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao City, and several urban areas in Rizal, Cavite, and Bulacan.

Committee chairman Rep. Cesar Sarmiento had said that the measure would provide for the creation of a single traffic authority headed by a traffic czar who will be appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The traffic czar is expected to come up with a traffic management plan within 90 days that will "harmonize and unify" all existing traffic regulations in the affected areas.

The lawmaker, however, clarified that the Traffic Crisis Act would not lead to the abolition of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, which would still be tapped to coordinate along with the various local government units (LGUs), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and other covered agencies.

The bill also would task the traffic czar, with the LTFRB's help, to conduct a "route rationalization" within six months. — ALG/RSJ, GMA News