Emergency powers to solve traffic no longer a priority —Cayetano

The House of Representatives is no longer keen on prioritizing the measure giving emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the perennial traffic problem in urban areas, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Monday.

In an interview with reporters, Cayetano said that while the bill giving Duterte emergency powers is not on the chamber's top list, the House will still find ways to solve the traffic crisis.

"Ang Pangulo na mismo ang nagsabi na ayaw niya na ng emergency powers. Having said that, we have to act and move as if there is emergency powers, as if there's a crisis, as if there's an emergency because parami nang parami ang sasakyan, particularly kotse in metro areas," Cayetano said.

According to Cayetano, there is a need to fast-track the construction of mass transportation systems such as trains and subways in order to decongest roads and highways in some Philippine cities.

"Napakalaki, billions ang nawawala sa atin yearly, sa ating ekonomiya. Yung billion, napapalitan yun e, pero yung oras na ginugugol mo sana sa pamilya rather doon sa traffic, hindi napapalitan yan," he said.

"So definitely, hindi man magiging priority na yung emergency powers, yung pag-solve sa problema ng traffic is a priority," he added.

Three measures have so far been filed at the House of Representatives giving Duterte emergency powers to address traffic, all currently pending before the House Committee on Transportation. —LDF, GMA News