Only Superman can solve Metro Manila's traffic problem – Bong Go

Who can solve Metro Manila's horrendous traffic problem? For Senator Bong Go, it would be Superman.

“Matagal na ‘yan, eh.  For me, it is not a crisis. It’s been there, ‘yung traffic dito sa Metro Manila. Nag aaral pa lang ako noon traffic na ang Nagtahan, Taft Avenue, Quezon Avenue. Lumapad na lang ang daan, traffic pa rin,” Go told reporters Friday.

As to whether the traffic situation was hopeless, the senator said, “Para sa akin ang trapik, kailangan ang makaka-solve ng traffic sa Metro Manila, alam mo sino? Superman.”

He said, as early as 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte had admitted that he could not solve the traffic problem.

“Ang hirap i-solve niyan at si Pangulo hindi nangangako ‘yan na hindi niya kayang gawin so hindi talaga natin ma-solve itong traffic,” he said.

Emergency powers

Go added that even granting the President emergency powers was a futile prospect.

“No. Wala na ‘yung emergency power na ‘yan, even me as a senator wala na ‘yun. I’m not in favor kasi with two years and eight months ni Presidente, hindi na po kayang i-solve ang traffic. Sisisihin lang po si Pangulo at the end of his term,” he said.

He added that the emergency powers should have been granted during the early part of Duterte's presidency.

“Dapat noon pa, nung 2016, July binigay na dapat ‘yun sa kanya kung gusto talaga siyang bigyan ng emergency power. Kakaumpisa pa lang niya, with six years maybe marami siyang pwedeng gawin with his  political will.  With two years and eight months kulang po ‘yan at sisisihin lang ang gobyernong Duterte,” he said.

While included in the government's "Build, Build, Build" program was the infrastructure that could improve the traffic situation, Go was skeptical that this would be enough to solve the entire problem.

During the previous Congress, the Public Services Committee headed by Senator Grace Poe had submitted a bill seeking emergency powers for the President.

However, that bill was never discussed, and neither did Duterte certify the bill as urgent. — DVM, GMA News