Duterte concedes, regrets failure to ease traffic along EDSA

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he had delivered on most of his promises, but addressing the appalling traffic situation along EDSA was not one of them.

"Wala akong pangako na hindi ko natupad except yang [traffic sa] EDSA. Nangako ako ng free tuition nandyan na ang batas, nangako ako ng free universal healthcare, pirmado ko na ang batas," Duterte said in a speech in Biñan City, Laguna.

"Ano pa naman ang gusto? 'Yung Pantawid, sabi ko itutuloy ko. Saan kukunin? Nandiyan sa Train (law) lahat 'yan," he added.

The President then blamed Congress, which had not granted him the emergency powers needed to solve the traffic woes along the major thoroughfare.

"Sabi ko I have to have the authority, kagaya ‘yung binigay kay (former President) Cory (Aquino) 'nung sa --- Ramos, ‘yung electricity. So they were given extraordinary powers...Ako naman sabi ko, hindi ko sinabing walang bidding. I said I would need money to repair or rehabilitate or do away with the present situation," he said.

"So nung narinig ko sa --- sa Congress. Hindi sila. 'Ah hindi pwede ‘to baka, you know, ang graft and corruption papasok dito.'..." he added.

"Kaya ang EDSA hanggang ngayon, ‘yan, wala akong magawa. Pero never did I ask money na sabihin na walang bidding-bidding," he said.

During his speech, the President looked back on the bills he signed into law, such as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, as well as the status of the Build Build Build Infrastructure program.

"Iyong Build Build Build ko? Pero hindi ako nangako niyan. Hindi niyo narinig sa bunganga ko 'yan. Pagkatapos na lang nung sigurado nang manalo ako kasi malaking pera. Iyong akin, simple lang," he said.

"Sabi ko, infrastructure, ‘yung eskwelahan. Iyong mga maestra, ilan 'yan? Pantawid. Universal. Puro libre na lahat. Ang hindi na lang ninyo hiningi 'yung bayag ko," he added, drawing laughter from the audience. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News