Senators have mixed reactions on emergency powers vs traffic

Some senators were open but some were wary over the proposed emergency powers to address the traffic problems in the country.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said he is open to the proposal but has yet to see the specific powers being sought by the incoming administration.

“I am open to the grant of emergency powers. I would like to see, however, the specific powers that is being requested to be granted and the safeguards,” Drilon said in a text message.

Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said it was high time to grant the next President emergency powers while Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the proposal was worth looking into as they recognized that there was now traffic criss not only in Mega Manila but in other parts of the country.

“Sa palagay ko kailangan ngang pagkalooban ng emergency powers ang susunod na pangulo ng Kongreso dahil krisis na ngang maituturing ang traffic sa mega Manila at sa ilan pang urban areas tulad ng Cebu City, pati na Davao City,” Lacson said in another text message.

(In my opinion, the next leader of Congress should be given emergency powers because traffic in mega Manila and a few urban areas like Cebu city, including Davao City could be considered a crisis.)

Based on the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) estimates, he said the country was already losing P2.5 billion a day in terms of missed business opportunities, gasoline, among others and this would go up to P6 billion a day by 2030 if the government would not act on it.

READ: Manila’s traffic jams cost P57M a day

“Dapat lang pag aralan at himaying mabuti kung anong klase at gaano katagal ang ibibigay na emergency powers. Sa ganang akin, dapat hintayin naming mga mambabatas kung ano ang hihilingin ng executive branch para mapag aralan namin ang mungkahi nila tungkol dito. At the outset, I would say, sang ayon ako,” Lacson said.

(The emergency powers that will be granted should be studied and dissected, what kind and for how long. On my part, we lawmakers should wait for what the executive branch will ask for so we can study their recommendations. At the outset, I would say, I agree.)

Ejercito said the proposed granting of emergency powers was worth looking into since the traffic situation in the country had become a crisis already.

“That is worth looking into. Yes, I do agree that we have a big traffic problem, in fact we are already choking. This is a crisis situation already,” he said.

Senator Grace Poe, chair of the public services subcommittee on transportation, said she supported the proposal but also wanted to see the details or terms of the emergency powers.

“I am glad the incoming DoTC Secretary fully recognizes the gravity of the traffic mess and the extreme urgency to solve the same as a matter of national interest. I am confident that the Senate will be supportive of this need for a whole of government approach through a legislated additional executive powers to address a problem that has become a national concern,” Poe said in a statement.

She was referring to incoming Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who is seeking additional powers from Congress.

READ: Edsa traffic jams: Rody exec eyes extra powers

Poe acknowledged that there was a need to expedite the process — from procurement to acquisition of rights of way, which, she said “invariably delay the start, if not the completion of projects.”

“I personally support the initiative but I would also like to find out as soon as possible the details or terms of the emergency powers they have in mind so we can hit the ground running as soon as session starts,” she said.

“Congress will have to review the terms and set the necessary parameters or safeguards. It is in the great interest of the public that we join hands across political affiliations to lick this traffic woes once and for all,” she added.

While he said he was not against the grant of emergency powers, Senator-elect Sherwin Gatchalian earlier warned that it would give the executive “very broad powers over many things, including bidding and contracting.

“Actually ako as a congressman of a Metro Manila City , talagang araw-araw pine-peligro kami ng traffic (everyday we were pestered by traffic). But an emergency powers may give the executive very broad powers over many things, including biddings and contracting,” he said during a press conference.

“Ang importante ngayon, ano ba yung strategy? Kasi hindi tayo pwedeng band-aid solution. Bakit kelangan mo ng emergency powers? Ano ba yung hindi magawa ng regular bidding process sa ngayon dahil hindi naming alam yung strategy. So we want to know what is the strategy first.”

(What’s important now is what is the strategy? We can’t solve it with band-aid solution. Why do you need emergency powers?)

“We want to know the over-all strategy because now kung maso-solve naman natin without emergency powers then mas maganda yun. Because if you shortcut the bidding process then I think magkakaroon ng cloud of doubt in the minds of the people and ayaw natin ng ganun. We want to make it as transparent as possible,” Gatchalian added. TVJ/rga

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