Poe calls on Palace to certify traffic-powers bill as urgent

Senator Grace Poe on Saturday called on Malacañang to certify as urgent a bill that would grant President Rodrigo Duterte powers which would used to ease Metro Manila's heavy traffic.

In a press release, Poe said that Senate Bill No. 1284 (An Act Compelling the Government to Address the Transportation and Congestion Crisis Through the Grant of Emergency Powers to the President), would advance faster with a certificate of urgency.

“Siguradong gagalaw ang emergency powers kung gagawin ng Malacañang na prayoridad ito at sesertipikahan para rin makatulong sa mabilis na pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong magpapaginhawa sa trapik,” said Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, and the main proponent of the bill.

According to the senator, a certification of urgency would allow Congress to pass the measure on second and third reading within the same day, which would compel lawmakers to proceed with the bill.

The emergency powers bill, which senators were still deliberating over, would effectively loosen stringent policies and fast-track the implementation of projects to ease traffic.

Poe added that Duterte could also "issue marching orders to his allies in the House of Representatives led by a 'super majority' coalition and the Senate to pass the measure."

She also emphasized that it was urgent that the bill be prioritized, as there were only three weeks or officially nine session days left before Congress adjourns for the month-long holiday break.

“Yung tax proposal, yun ang priority, mahabang debate iyan. Pag yun ang nakasalang at hindi naman prayoridad ang emergency powers, depende talaga yan kung maisisingit pa. Kaya mahalagang masertipika na ang emergency powers,” Poe said.

Presidential Communications Sec. Martin Andanar had earlier said that Malacañang was renewing its push for the passage of the proposed legislation in light of reports that Metro-Manila's citizens spent the third longest average time being stuck in daily traffic at 66 minutes. The average time is Asia was 52 minutes. — Jessica Bartolome/DVM, GMA News