Poe: Senate body tepid on proposed bus rapid transit system

Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO FROM SENATOR POE’S OFFICE

Senator Grace Poe said they might thumb down the proposed implementation of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Metro Manila being pushed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), for lack of study that backs its effectiveness in solving the traffic woes in the area.

The implementation of Metro Bus Rapid Transit Line 1 from Manila to Quezon City, which would cost the government P47 billion, and Metro Bus Rapid Transit Line 2 covering Edsa Ayala, Ortigas-BGC up to the Ninoy Aquino National Airport that would cost P39.44 billion, were among the projects that the DOTr has submitted to the Senate committee on public services chaired by Poe.

READ: DOTr mulls bus rapid transit system for Metro

Poe’s committee is the lead panel that deliberated on a bill which would grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the country’s traffic woes.

But unlike other projects, the senator said there was no “official study” conducted about the proposed BRT system in the metropolis.

“Alam mo, walang pag aaral ito hindi katulad nung ibang sistema katulad ng pagpapadagdag ng tren na talagang nakalagay sa study ng Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency) na ilang milyon ang binayad diyan para makumpleto. Ito wala pang pag-aaral,” Poe said in an interview over DZMM on Wednesday.

(There is not study to back this proposal unlike other systems like the expansion of trains which is supported by a Jica study, and wherein millions have been spent for its completion. There’s no study to back this up.)

“Ngayon, bakit naman tayo susugal sa isa pang hindi pa napapatunayan o nasasaliksikan kaya isa ‘yan sa maari namin talagang hindi pahintulutan bagama’t hindi ko pinangungunahan ang komite sapagkat hindi lang naman ako ang miyembro nito,” she added.

(Now why would we gamble on a system that has not been proven? So we are leaning on not approving it, but I am not preempting the committee because I am not its sole member.)

Asked in a text message if the DOTr had failed to present a study about the BTR during the hearings, Poe said, “There is no official study yet, they said. They will commission pa lang.”

The proposal, she said, was not backed up by empirical data.

Poe also noted that the emergency powers being sought by the executive would cover not only Metro Manila and other urban areas, but the entire Philippines.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto earlier expressed alarm over the scope of the emergency powers, saying it would be chaos to use it in the entire country.

“In effect, traffic crisis manager kayo ng buong Pilipinas, kukunin n’yo ang kapangyarihan ng lahat ng local government unit. Ako walang problema sa MMDA, buong Metro Manila sa ngayon ha, subukan natin. Pero bakit buong Pilipinas, magulo yan…” Recto said during the last hearing of the committee.

(In effect, you will become the traffic crisis manager of the entire Philippines, obtaining the power from all local government units. I have no problem with the MMDA, applying it in entire Metro Manila, but only for now, sure, let’s try it. But for the entire Philippines? That will be chaotic.)

“Malawak na malawak ‘yung kapangyarihan na nilalagay nyo dito at nakakabahala kung wala talagang plano talaga,” he added.

(You are asking for a great amount of power, and it’s alarming if you have no plan at all.)

READ: Recto: Scope of Duterte emergency powers alarming

Poe had already wrapped up the public hearings on the bill but said her committee would still conduct technical working group meetings to polish the measure.

She had repeatedly expressed hope that the measure would be approved in the chamber before the year ends. IDL