Duterte needs money to solve metro traffic: ‘I can’t repair Edsa with saliva’

BUMPER TO BUMPER NO MORE? MMDA officials hope to ease traffic flow on Edsa by regulating the movement of private vehicles with one person on board during peak hours. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that he needs money to solve traffic woes on Edsa. And if Congress would not budge to give him the emergency powers to do so, the Chief Executive declared: “Let Edsa remain as it is for the next 20 years.”

Ranting before village officials during the oath-taking of Liga ng mga Barangay National Board of Officers and National Chapter Presidents in Malacañang, Mr. Duterte recalled his campaign promise to address Edsa traffic as well as his call for emergency powers, which Congress refused to grant him.

“Sinabi ko sa inyo I’ll try (to address Edsa). Ang hiningi ko noon, I could be given emergency powers. Emergency power means you can simply buy anything without bidding. And it was given to (former Presidents Ferdinand) Marcos and Cory (Aquino) during their time about the energy,” Duterte said.

“Itong Edsa I cannot repair it with saliva. I need to spend, I need to have money,” he added.

Mr. Duterte continued: “But noon palang at the early days of my administration, when it was floated around, I was informed that most Congress were not – members – ayaw nila kasi malaki daw ‘yung pera baka mapunta lang sa graft and corruption.”

“Sabi ko, it’s okay. I don’t need it (emergency powers for Edsa). Let Edsa remain as it is for the next 20 years. Don’t bother… there’s always that hanging suspicion that I am there for the money. Huwag na lang. Hayaan mo wala tayong magawa,” he further said. /kga