MANILA, Philippines – Calls for emergency powers for president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to help him address Metro Manila’s traffic and transportation woes have gained support from businessmen and lawmakers.
As this developed, incoming justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday said they have completed a draft bill granting Duterte emergency powers.
“Without the emergency powers, the transportation department would have a difficult time to implement extensive reforms,” he stressed in an interview.
“Without it, we will surely end up in courts and TROs (temporary restraining orders) could delay the solutions. This could lead us to resorting once more to band aid solutions,” he pointed out.
The proposed emergency powers, to take effect for two years, would allow the national government to ignore injunction orders as well as ordinances against measures aimed at easing traffic.
Based on the draft bill, direct contracting for transport-related projects would be allowed.
Roads in some subdivisions may also be opened to traffic and major streets cleared of illegally parked vehicles, vendor stalls and other obstructions.
Incoming transportation secretary Arthur Tugade may be sent to China to discuss with Chinese leaders a possible railway project that could decongest traffic.
Duterte said China offered to undertake the project before the 2016 polls.
“Even before the election, the ambassador, the woman, said ‘we will do the railway immediately.’ She said immediately. We will start immediately,” Duterte said.
It was not clear who Duterte was referring to, but the last female Chinese ambassador was Ma Keqing.
“Art Tugade has to go to China not to talk about war and irritation but talk about peace and how (China can) help us,” he added.
In a statement, the Makati Business Club (MBC) said it acknowledges the need for urgent action to untangle the traffic mess that has stymied the flow of commerce not only in Metro Manila but in the entire country as well.
The MBC emphasized, however, that such emergency powers should be guided by principles of people-oriented mobility and transparency, and “that the private sector and civil society should be provided with a substantial role in implementation and monitoring.”
“MBC believes that the nation does face a transportation crisis, which needs urgent action and solutions. The Makati Business Club stands ready to assist and be an active participant in a highly thorough process of consultation, debate and analysis between government and the private sector,” the business group said.
A 2012 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency revealed Metro Manila’s traffic gridlock costs the economy at least P3 billion or $64 million a day.
“The Makati Business Club recognizes that the last few years have been characterized by a surge in the demand for mobility, seen by the increasing number of motor vehicles on the road and more domestic and international trips for social, business or tourism purposes,” the group said.
“This massive mobility gap continues to cause great damage to both the economy and the quality of life of our people, illustrated, according to studies, by the billions of pesos of productivity losses per day and the unquantifiable health risks and social costs brought about by congestion and long commutes,” the MBC added.
The local automotive industry has long been calling for better public infrastructure and public transportation, saying the rising demand for vehicles should not necessarily entail the worsening of traffic.
“Cars are really becoming a necessity and you cannot stop it. We just have to improve our infrastructure. It is true traffic these days is worse, so it’s really a sign we should do something about our roads,” Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. president Rommel Gutierrez said.
“No matter what you do, you cannot stop people from buying cars. After the house, and for many people, ahead of the house, cars are a top priority because of mobility. The reason people buy cars is because there is no public transport,” Federation of Automotive Industries of the Philippines president Vicente Mills Jr. added.
Fast solution
Senators have also expressed openness to arming Duterte with emergency powers to tackle Metro Manila’s traffic and transport problems.
“Yes, because people are really looking forward to that problem’s immediate solution,” said Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who is emerging as the next Senate president.
Outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon said he is amenable to the idea but “would like to see the specific powers to be granted” to the incoming president.
“I believe the next president should be granted emergency powers by Congress because traffic in mega Manila and other urban areas like Cebu City and even Davao City can already be considered as a crisis,” senator-elect Panfilo Lacson said.
“Because of traffic and if the government will not intervene, the losses could reach as high as P6 billion by 2030,” Lacson added.
“What should be studied carefully is the kind of emergency powers that will be granted and the length of time it would be exercised,” he said.
Sen. Grace Poe said it is about time the national government recognizes the traffic problem in Metro Manila and treat it as a matter of national interest.
“I am confident that the Senate will be supportive of this need for a whole of government approach through legislated additional executive powers to address a problem that has become a national concern,” Poe said.
“We are well aware of the need to expedite the process from procurement to acquisition of rights of way which invariably delay the start if not the completion of projects. I personally support the initiative but I would also like to find out as soon as possible the details or terms of the emergency powers they have in mind so we can hit the ground running as soon as session starts,” she added.
Make it clear
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said emergency powers for Duterte would be helpful but should be clearly spelled out.
He said Metro Manila’s traffic congestion “is a real problem and has many causes, including lack of discipline from motorists.”
“Yes, let’s give him the emergency powers, but let’s be very specific in what the emergency powers consist of,” Belmonte told reporters after leading the inauguration of the House library and museum building. – With Alexis Romero, Edu Punay, Marvin Sy, Paolo Romero, Robertzon Ramirez, Mike Frialde