Senator Grace Poe will defend anew the bill granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte when Congress opens its second regular session on July 24, saying that the debilitating traffic crisis puts a toll on the country’s economic growth.
Last December, Poe, chairperson of the committee on public services, endorsed Senate Bill No. 1284 or the Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act which she authored. She said legislators have yet to approve the measure a year after President Duterte declared that he wants Congress to do its part in addressing the traffic congestion.
“We hope to resume deliberations when session reopens, and as sponsor, we want this bill passed before the year ends,” Poe said.
She added that the emergency powers bill, if passed, will allow the use of alternative methods of procurement for faster implementation of transportation projects. She is hopeful that it remains a priority of the Senate in addressing the traffic mess that hounds commuters and motorists everyday.
“There are still a few more senators who have questions about the bill,” she said.
Poe has maintained that ending the daily agony and sufferings of our commuters is long overdue and believes that any further delay in solving the traffic crisis is denying them the basic rights and due service they deserve from the government.
Despite sponsoring the bill, Poe said that if enacted, the measure will be FOI-compliant, fiscally responsible and would adhere to deadlines. She said the massive transportation projects will be up for public scrutiny.
Malacañang and Congress officials had earlier met to list 10 priority measures which included the emergency powers to solve traffic in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
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.
With regards to the Freedom of Information bill, Poe expressed optimism that the anti-corruption measure will be approved by the Senate. She said her committee on public information and mass media will schedule the FOI for plenary debates so the bill will advance. She said that the measure will breathe life to the people’s right to information on matters of public concern as enshrined in the Constitution.
The Philippine Business Groups-Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines has included the emergency powers bill and FOI bill in their 12 priority wishlist that they want Congress to pass to improve the business and economic climate in the country.
Meanwhile, Poe is also set to endorse the creation of a National Transportation Safety Board that will conduct independent investigations on transport-related accidents on land, air, maritime and rail in order to solve the current incoherent setup of several agencies investigating different transport incidents.
“With the many traffic accidents, we need an agency to focus on this,” she said. The senator is also set to hear resolutions filed by senators on fake news which were referred to the committee on public information and mass media.
At the same time, Poe is urging the Senate to frontload the approval of her pet anti-hunger measures which seeks to establish a schools-based feeding program for public school students enrolled in K-12, and the First 1,000 Days Act that provides children full support beginning conception up to two years of age.