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Belmonte backs emergency powers for Duterte to solve traffic crisis


Outgoing House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. backs the proposal to grant emergency powers to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to solve the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Belmonte, vice chairman of the Liberal party, however, cautioned against giving blanket emergency powers to Duterte especially since the extraordinary authority he will seek from Congress could last for up to two years.

"Yes, let's give him the emergency powers, but let's be very specific what the emergency powers consist of," Belmonte told reporters at the Batasang Pambansa Tuesday.

Incoming Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Monday said the next administration will ask Congress to grant Duterte emergency powers to fix what he believes to be a traffic crisis crippling Metro Manila.

Such an authority, if given by Congress, would allow the government to deal with the temporary restraining orders issued against government takeover of private property, open up private subdivisions to traffic, and skirt public bidding of road projects in favor of direct contracting.

Given the magnitude of Metro Manila’s traffic problem, Belmonte said public bidding for certain road infrastructure projects can be dispensed with provided that the administration is transparent with the details of how the projects will be implemented.

"I think Metro Manilans are very aware of what's going on. Perhaps we can dispense with some of the bidding process here as long as it's made in public, with everybody knowing what's going on, hindi yung behind things,” he said.

"Medyo kumplikado yung doing away with public bidding. We have to be very specific, what is it na wina-waive yung pag-bid in two years," Belmonte added.

Tugade earlier said the incoming administration’s request for expanded authority is not without precedent since former President Fidel Ramos also asked Congress for emergency powers to resolve a power problem in the 1990s.

The Constitution allows emergency powers to be granted to the President in times of national emergency.

Duterte’s choice to lead the House of Representatives in the 17th Congress, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez earlier said he is ready to rally lawmakers to provide emergency powers to Duterte to solve Metro Manila’s traffic problem. —KBK, GMA News

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