Senator Grace Poe expects the Senate to pass a bill granting President Duterte emergency powers to address the worsening traffic in the country before the 17th Congress adjourns in June.

This as she stressed that “ending the daily agony and sufferings of commuters is long overdue” and “any further delay in solving the traffic crisis is denying them the basic rights and due service they deserve to get from government.”

Once passed, the senator assured that the massive transportation projects will be up for public scrutiny.

“While we agree to the emergency powers, we shall ensure that such will be FOI-compliant, fiscally responsible and adhering to deadlines,” said Poe, who is principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1284 or the proposed Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act.

According to the senator, the Senate is expected to speed up deliberations on said bill when sessions resume after its six-week break, following a drawing up of “common priorities” by the Palace and Congress.

Malacañang and Congress officials recently met to list 10 priority measures which included the emergency powers to solve traffic in Metro Manila and other urban areas.

Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, had sponsored the emergency powers bill as early as December 14 last year.

Before the Senate went on break last month, the proposed measure reached the period of interpellation. At least five senators have already scrutinized the bill in plenary, while several others have expressed their intent to interpellate and introduce amendments to the bill when sessions resume in May.

At the House, the measure has been approved at the committee level, while plenary debates have yet to start.

The proposed emergency powers bill authorizes the President, through his appointed Traffic Crisis Manager, to use alternative methods of procurement under existing laws to expedite the implementation of key transportation projects.

The measure covers land, sea and air transport that sets parameters on how to exercise the emergency powers.

Meanwhile, Poe called on concerned agencies to implement immediate solutions to address the worsening traffic and ease commuter woes.

Tags: 17th Congress, Grace Poe, Manila Bulletin, mb.com.ph, President Duterte, President will get emergency powers to solve traffic – Poe

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Elena L. Aben

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