Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 10) — Three Senate bets said that granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte is not needed to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“Siguro sa ibang mga presidente, hindi pa kay Pangulong Duterte kasi delikado. Baka ‘yung emergency power ay kung saan gamitin,” labor leader Ledo de Guzman said during CNN Philippines’ fourth Senatorial Forum on Sunday.
[Translation: Maybe for other presidents, not for President Duterte because it’s dangerous. The emergency powers might be used for something else.]
For De Guzman, traffic congestion can be eased by prohibiting the construction of large establishments in Metro Manila and instead encourage them to bring these to the provinces.
He also sees putting wages in the provinces at par with wages in Metro Manila will aid in decongesting the country’s economic center.
“‘Yung paglalagay ng minimum wage nationwide ay makakatulong para sa decogestion ng Metro Manila, para ma-disperse ‘yung ating mga manggagawa at [‘wag] magsiksikan sa Metro Manila dahil ang sahod dito at saka sa probinsya ay pareho na,” De Guzman said.
[Translation: Setting a nationwide minimum wage will help to decongest Metro Manila, to disperse our workers and discourage them from flocking to Metro Manila because the wages here and in the province are the same.]
For his part, lawyer Dan Roleda said only the proper enforcement of laws will be enough to solve traffic woes.
“Proper enforcement and obedience to traffic rules will already reduce congestion by 20 percent,” Roleda claimed.
He wants an information campaign on traffic laws, higher fines for traffic violators and an increase in the salaries of traffic enforcers.
Meanwhile, lawyer Larry Gadon said decongesting Metro Manila is as simple as shortening the work and school week from five to four days and shifting office hours to decrease people on the road.
A measure pending in the Senate seeks to grant emergency powers to the President as provided for in the Article VI, Section 23(2) of the Constitution which states that the Congress may, in cases of war or national emergency, authorize the President “to exercise powers necessary and proper to carry out a declared national policy” for a limited period of time.
Last week, Duterte said he has given up on the proposal as some people were raising concerns about the possibility of corruption should he be granted emergency powers.
However, the Transportation department said they would still like for Duterte to get emergency powers. But even without it, they would still do their best to address traffic.
The bill quickly hurdled the Senate Public Services committee in 2016, but has since been slowed down in plenary. Public Services panel chair Grace Poe attributed this to “mixed signals” from Duterte on the proposal.
The House passed its own version of the bill last December.
