Poe dismayed at absence of some mayors at Senate traffic hearing

Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO FROM SENATOR POE’S OFFICE

Senator Grace Poe has expressed dismay over the absence of some mayors at Thursday’s resumption of the Senate hearing on the proposed emergency powers, saying it would have been their opportunity to express their observations and reservations on the issue.

So far, Poe said only Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, among the local executives invited to the hearing of the Senate committee on public service, which she chairs, has confirmed his attendance.

“Medyo disappointed ako kasi marami sa mga mayors ang hindi pupunta either out of the country, may sakit. E akala ko ba yun ang pinakamalaking problema nila? Hindi ba dapat maging vocal sila sa anong pwedeng gawing solution kahit ngayon?” the senator said in an interview over DZMM ahead of the 9 a.m. hearing of the committee.

“Ang nag-confirm na mayor na talagang at least masaya tayo nag confirm sya ay si Mayor Bistek (Bautista’s nickname),” she said. “Sayang sa kanila kasi pwede sana nilang iparating yung kanilang mga observation, mga reservations nila…”

“Wala e, it’s their loss kasi dapat pumunta na sila ngayon kung hindi, hindi nila pwepwedeng masisi na hindi sila kinausap tungkol dito,” Poe added.

Aside from Bautista, other local executives invited to the hearing were Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos, San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Pasig City Mayor Roberto Eusebio, Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay and Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco.

Also invited were heads of concerned government agencies like Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Metro Manila Development Authority General Manager Thomas Orbos, among others./rga

READ: Mayors invited at Senate hearing on emergency powers vs traffic