Poe panel starts drafting report on traffic powers bill

Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO FROM SEN. GRACE POE’S OFFICE

While conducting its hearings, the Senate committee on public services has started crafting a partial report on the bill that seeks to grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the traffic crisis.

The committee chaired by Senator Grace Poe had already wrapped up its deliberations after conducting three public hearings but it decided to reopen the proceedings this Wednesday upon the request of some senators, including Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto.

READ: Poe panel ends public hearings on emergency powers

Poe made it clear that the reopening of the proceeding was not meant to delay the approval of the measure.

“Hindi po ito para patagalin ang deliberation dahil sa lower house nag-uumpisa pa lang po sila pero habang ginagawa nila yun, tayo naman po ay patuloy sa ating pagdinig,” she said in her opening statement.

“At ang committee report ay inuumpisahan na natin so hindi po ito nagpapabagal, nagpapadagdag lang po ito ng maaring maging solution na epektibo para sa ating mga kababayan,” the senator said.

(This is not to prolong the deliberation because they are just beginning in the lower house, and while they are doing that we will continue with the hearings.

And we are starting with the committee report so this won’t prolong the process, this only adds to formulating an effective solution for our countrymen.)

Poe, in an interview over DZMM before the hearing, said a “partial” report on the bill was already being crafted by the body.

She reiterated her wishes to have the bill approved in the Senate before December but she said the committee could not railroad its approval.

“Hopefully, before December ay mabigay na pero hindi ako magbibigay ng isang drawing lang para lang masabi na politically na pinagbigyan ko (we would already be able to submit it, but we won’t give one that is just for show just to say that I was granted a political accommodation),” said Poe. CDG