Saying that ending the daily agony and sufferings of commuters is long overdue, Senator Grace Poe expressed hopes that the Senate will pass the proposed Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act before Congress adjourns in June.
Poe, the principal sponsor of the measure, said she remains upbeat that Upper Chamber will conclude the period of interpellation soon after the resumption of session in May.
She noted that any further delay in solving the traffic crisis is denying the commuters the basic rights and services they deserve to get from the government.
“While we agree to the emergency powers, we shall ensure that such will be FOI-compliant, fiscally responsible and adhering to deadlines,” added Poe, also the chairperson of the Senate committee on public services.
She, however. assured her committee will scrutinize the massive transportation projects.
Malacañang and Congress officials recently met to list 10 priority measures which include the emergency powers to solve traffic in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
“I have always been reminding and have always been talking in the plenary this [proposed measure] would be futile if not passed immediately. That’s why, this is called an emergency,” said Poe.
Poe had sponsored the emergency powers bill as early as Dec. 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.
Meanwhile, Poe called on concerned agencies to implement immediate solutions to address the worsening traffic and ease commuter woes.
“I am also reminding the other branches of govenment to focus on solving the traffic problems where emergency powers are not needed, such as illegally parked vehicles,” Poe said.
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.