Solons still lukewarm to emergency powers

President Duterte’s desired emergency powers to enable him to solve the “traffic crisis” continues to get a lukewarm response from Congress but one lawmaker said the chief executive would eventually get them but not so easily.

The emergency powers to be wielded by Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade will be granted before the year ends “in whatever form because the President wants it, but because of this, the efforts to resolve the traffic situation might also be impaired,” said Marikina Rep. Bayani Fernando, vice chair of the House Committee on Transportation.

Fernando told the Inquirer by phone that the executive branch already had “all the powers” it needs to solve the traffic conundrum that has brought Metro Manila several times to a standstill, resulting in huge economic losses.

“I hope when Congress gives them these powers, they will know their limitations. They will practice due diligence,” Fernando, former chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, said.