Poe puts emergency powers hearings on hold

Senator Grace Poe has suspended hearings for the granting of emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte pending a detailed list of projects from the Department of Transportation, headed by Secretary Arthur Tugade (inset). INQUIRER FILES

The Senate committee on public services chaired by Senator Grace Poe has put on hold deliberations on the proposed emergency powers for President Rodrigo Duterte pending a detailed list of projects that the government would implement to address the traffic crisis.

The committee was set to resume its deliberations this Tuesday but canceled it ahead of the 10:00 a.m. schedule.

“The Executive branch is in a hurry to pass the emergency powers bill, but based on our hearings, we have learned that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have yet to come up with concrete projects under the emergency powers bill,” Poe said in a statement.

READ: Duterte emergency power won’t come without conditions—Poe

Without a draft bill from the DOTr that would also spell out proposed projects and particular issues to be addressed, Poe said the committee would still conduct consultative technical working group meetings to fast-track the crafting of solutions that would address the traffic and transport problems in the country.

Transportation officials asked the committee during its last hearing on August 25 that they be given two weeks to prepare a bill of particulars, including a list of proposed projects, to solve the traffic crisis.

While the committee already heard the proposals of urban planners and the transport and commuter groups, Poe said they expected the DOTr to incorporate suggestions from stakeholders.

READ: Transport group pushes 7 solutions to Metro traffic

“Paano tayo gagawa ng epektibo at komprehensibong plano kung hindi natin nakukunsulta ang mga apektadong sektor? Sana hindi tayo magsayang ng pera at oras sa pagpapatupad sa mga planong hindi naman lubusang mapapakinabangan ng taumbayan,” she said.

“Sa ilalim ng mga proposed emergency power bills, two to three years lang ibinigay natin sa kanilang palugit. Sana naman hindi maubos iyung palugit na iyun sa pagpaplano lamang. Dapat ngayon, may maiprisinta na silang mga plano kung ano ang gagawin nila para masolusyunan ang trapiko sakaling hindi maipasa ang emergency powers bill,” the senator added.

Several Senators earlier expressed willingness to grant Duterte emergency powers to solve traffic in Metro Manila and other key cities even as they cited the need for safeguards in simplified contracting arrangements that will be enabled under the grant. Tarra Quismundo, Philippine Daily Inquirer/rga