Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO FROM SEN. GRACE POE’S OFFICE
Senator Grace Poe is wondering why transport officials seemed at a loss about how the emergency powers being sought for President Rodrigo Duterte could be used to address the traffic crisis in the country.
Poe noted that after conducting two hearings, the Senate committee on public services, which she chairs, has yet to hear a clear plan on how the President would use the emergency powers.
“Nangangapa rin po sila, iyun nga ang di ko maintindihan. Kung meron kang gusto, talagang passionate ka tungkol dito (They are still at a loss, and I don’t understand why. If you want something, you have to be passionate about it),” she said in an interview over dzMM on Friday.
“Kahit hindi pa kumpleto ang plano mo masasabi na ito talaga yung problema namin ngayon, ito yung kailangan namin, ito yung plano namin. Pero parang mga pipi na hindi masabi pa kung anu-ano iyon (Even if your plan is not yet complete, you can point out your problem and the corresponding solution to it. But they are like dumb who cannot speak up on their plan),” she said.
Poe said the executive should at least present to the committee a general idea about what they plan to do with the traffic problem.
To fast-track the proceedings, she said her committee had already acceded to the request of the Department of Transportation that it would be given two weeks to submit its plan.
READ: Poe to fast-track bill giving Duterte crisis powers to fix traffic
While she supports granting the President emergency powers, Poe said she also has a sworn duty to make sure that these powers would not be abused.
“Tingnan niyo po sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na popular ang ating Pangulo ngayon, lahat sumasang-ayon sa sinasabi niya. Pero ako naman ay may sinumpaang tungkulin, ayoko namang magbigay ng isang blankong tseke na pipirmahan ko lang at maski na anong halaga ay isusulat nila kahit hindi kailangan,” she said.
(If you look at our countrymen, our President is popular and everyone just agrees with what he says. But I have a sworn duty, I don’t want to give a signed blank check and they can just put any amount they want even if it’s not necessary.)
“Kaya nga po sabi ko bibilisan natin ang trabaho pero gawin natin lahat ang nararapat para hindi naman maisahan ang taumbayan (That’s why I’m saying that we would fast-track our work but we should do everything to make sure that our countrymen would not be deceived.),” she said.
READ: Duterte emergency power won’t come without conditions—Poe
Poe said concerned officials and agencies of government must also ensure that they would do their part and would act expeditiously to address the traffic problem.
“Gusto kong ibigay yan (emergency powers) bago pa mag-Pasko pero talagang (dapat) mapapatunayan nila na gagawin nila ang trabaho nila agad-agad. Hindi yung pati emergency powers ay uupuan nila (I want to grant the emergency powers before Christmas but they have to make sure that they would work on it immediately. I hope they won’t just sit around with the emergency powers),” she said. RAM/rga