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Excerpts from the transcripts of joint committee
hearings/ speech for SB Nos. 11, 154, 999, and 1067
(substituted as SB 1284)
As retrieved from https://janus.senate.gov.ph/cgi-bin/welcome/
senate

• 8/10/2016 | CONSULTATION/ OCULAR 


COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES JOINT WITH THE


COMMITTEES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND
REVISION OF CODES AND FINANCE

PAGE 10
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE).
….The President has supplied the framework on how to fix the traffic mess
which in capsule form is that extraordinary problems require extraordinary
powers to solve. The rule on such request for great powers has always been,
“the President proposes, Congress disposes.” We will soon wade into the
details of the bills and carefully study its provisions with no other motive but to
improve it. We must be open to innovative solutions and be ready to think out
of the box. But though we are open to innovation, we must also be responsible
with our actions.

Giving the President emergency powers necessarily raises concerns about


concentration of powers in one person as this could easily be abused. There
are fears that if we grant emergency powers for this issue, then we open the
floodgates to granting emergency powers for other so-called “crisis” or
“emergencies.” We must, therefore, pose important questions on the extent of
those powers.

PAGE 11
For instance, we must have clear-cut parameters as what constitutes an
emergency. Second, we must be clear on what those emergency powers will
be used for and whether they can effectively address the problems. It is
important for us to define and quantify the objectives of the bills.

Let me share with you the principles I will apply in evaluating your request for
emergency powers. First, it must be FOI-compliant. This is one non-
negotiable principle, constant in its
implementation.

PAGE 12
It must permeate and penetrate all activities, contracts, projects, biddings,
documents, awards, payments made pursuant to the act of granting
emergency powers. Letting the sunlight in construction results in better built
infrastructure. Second, it must be fiscally responsible. The power to
expedite projects is not a license to contract an expensive one. We may allow
you to take shortcuts for as long as they do not short change the taxpayers.
There must be no hidden costs or undeclared conditional debts that will be
passed on to several generations. Third, it must have details and deadlines.
We will not go for vague powers or blank checks. Hindi puwede ang “Bahala na
kami.” Everything must be well-defined. The parameters must be set. I assure
you there will be elbowroom and wide latitude given but not wide enough for
thieves to sneak in. We will also insist on deadlines. It is not enough that you
will tell us that you will build a tunnel. We will require you to tell us the exact
date we will see the light at the end of it.

I think the most important is that we will only give you a set of powers on
the condition that you will first give us the bill of particulars. The powers
must be in pursuit of clearly identified results. What are the exact deliverables,
the cost of each, and when will it be finished? Specifically, the location of
projects, the price tag of each, and the deadline of completion. We will also be
inquiring on projects that may need no powers of the emergency kind to
implement. Kapag may obstruction sa kalsada, hindi emergency powers ang
kailangan pero tow truck. Kapag may nakabarang illegal na terminal sa kanto,
hindi emergency powers ang kailangan kung hindi pulis. Kapag ang isang lugar
ay madaling bahain na nagbubuhol tuloy ang traffic umaambon lang, hindi
emergency powers ang kailangan, ang kailangan ay ang mga taong maglilinis
ng kanal at estero. So what we will request you is to tell us the things you
plan to do, and tell us which of them would require emergency powers.
You and I agree that not all challenges entail the bestowal of special
powers to solve them

PAGE 222
In this hearing, we learned that, number one, we need emergency powers
bill that is detailed, particular and specific with deliverables, costs and
deadlines of completion. We also need it to be FOI compliant and fiscally
responsible.

PAGE 225
We must find better ways to move our most important resource—our people.
As such, we need to determine whether granting emergency power shall
achieve the objectives even if my fellow senators here are already saying that
they will grant it definitely. I think that we owe it to ourselves and to the public to
erase any doubts in their minds that anything is being abused and that we are
doing our due diligence to make sure that we don’t give anything in excess of
what we need.

• 8/25/2016 | JOINT COMMITTEE MEETINGS/ HEARINGS 


COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES JOINT WITH THE


COMMITTEES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND
REVISION OF CODES AND FINANCE

PAGE 204
ON COLORUM
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE).
O, sige. So ganito na lang po, kasi matagal na iyan na nirereklamo. Humihingi
ang DOT ng ating administrasyon ng emergency powers, pero nasa batas
naman na hulihin ang mga colorum. Hindi kailangan ng emergency
powers diyan. Para magkaroon kami ng kumpiyansa na magagawa ninyo
iyong mga malalaking bagay ay iyong mga nasa harapan natin ay linisin muna
natin. Gagawin nating kondisyon siguro iyan nang magkaroon ng malaking
improvement sa pagbabawas ng colorum bago natin sabihin na bibigyan natin
ng emergency powers. Dahil hindi ba parang emergency powers na, pero
iyong mga mayroon na kayong kapangyarihan na gawin ang mga dapat
ninyong gawin ngayon ay hindi pa rin ninyo nagagawa, eh bakit natin
dadagdagan pa ang kapangyarihan kaagad-agad? Parang kaunting reward
rin galing sa inyo na, “Ito ang aming gagawin, naguumpisa na kami ngayon.”
So pwede bang magkaroon, Ms. Lontoc, ng isang task force na kasama itong
mga private na ito na kung kailangang tumayo sa mga kanto-kanto na ituro na
iyong mga colorum. Imagine, kasunduan iyan, one million ang fine. That would
really prevent them from going out. Would it be cost effective? Only if it is
implemented. But six in one year? Iyon ba ang sinasabi ninyo? Or in how many
months?

PAGE 215
ON CONFLICT BETWEEN LGUS AND MMDA

MR. DE LUNA. Hindi, sa akin pong observation may kapangyarihan po sa


parte po ng Metro Manila, ang nakalagay po sa special law ay ang may
kapangyarihan iyong MMDA. Pero ang nangyayari naman aawayin naman sila
ng local government dahil may kapangyarihan din sila ng batas. At ang LTO
naman po magkakaroon ng ano—

THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sir, kaya nga po natin pinag-uusapan dito
ang emergency powers na kontra kayo, kasi nga dahil nga sa mga balakid sa
batas na nagkakaroon tuloy ng hindi pagkakaunawaan ng local government at
national government. Pero tama kayo, hindi naman puwedeng forever
emergency powers. Kailangan ayusin ang batas kung maaayos din natin.
Okay, next. Kayo na lang po, Usec Kintanar, and then we’ll wrap up.

• 09/22/2016 | JOINT COMMITTEE MEETINGS/ HEARINGS



COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES JOINT WITH THE
COMMITTEES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND
REVISION OF CODES AND FINANCE

PAGE 7 - 8
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE).
Nakapagpadala na tayo ng satellite sa space, nakapagpanalo na tayo ng kaso
sa arbitral tribunal pero ang isang pang-araw-araw na problema tulad ng
trapiko ay hindi pa rin nasosolusyunan. However, our traffic woes should not
be as a blanket excuse to grant emergency powers without making sure
that these powers are FOI-compliant, time-bound, fiscally responsible,
detailed and particular.

PAGE 11
….Alam ninyo ho ba kung bakit ko iginigiit ito? Simple lang. Because with
great emergency powers come great fiscal responsibility. These projects
will incur expenses beyond our means to raise. To realize them, we have to
mortgage our children’s future and perhaps take a second mortgage on our
apo. Kaya gusto kong malaman kung ang mga gagastusin ay factored in na sa
tax reform program ng administrasyon in the cost of abating traffic computed in
the new revenues that must be raised.

PAGE 79
…...Okay. That I understand. So, you are still in the planning stage. Let me
just remind you also that the emergency powers will only extend and
cannot extend beyond the Seventeenth Congress. So, those things that
you need to identify should be identified within that period if it’s for the
emergency powers.

PAGE 149
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Thank you, Senator Migz. Before I give my
concluding remarks, one last question to Secretary Tugade. When I asked you
about the almost 40 billion BRT line—so PPPfunded ito. Kung kasama sa
emergency powers, does it mean na walang bidding?

MR. TUGADE. Hindi ho. Mayroon hong bidding ito. Papasok din ho sa
processes ng NEDA, may bidding po iyan.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sir, it doesn’t necessarily mean that just
because it’s within the purview of the emergency powers that you will eliminate
bidding in this instance?

MR. TUGADE. Hindi po, ma’am.

THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So siguro dapat klaro tayo na kunwari


emergency procurement but for a certain amount, mayroon pa ring
bidding? Ganoon, but the bidding processes is faster.

PAGE 150

THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Well, that is reassuring, sir. And then, thank
you for reminding us the public that there will be an oversight committee. So as
we conclude the third hearing on the proposals to grant emergency powers to
the President— Well, let me just have this option. Allow me to summarize
what we’ve learned. First, it appears that DOTr in order to address the
traffic crises in the Philippines request an exemption from the tedious
procurement process. And they will need a speedy procurement—that is
one of the proposed solutions to transportation crises. However, it can
eliminate competitive bidding to an extent. We may also allow shortcuts
for as long as they do not short-change the taxpayers. Second, the DOTr
prefers a single traffic authority. We have already discussed this. Emergency
powers should include the budget for relocating informal settler families and
improving relocation sites. Thus, there is a need for a national government-
local and government partnership. We heard about ICT-based solutions to
address traffic congestion. We want to include the obtaining of permits for cell
towers to be part of the emergency powers so that we will have faster Internet
and clearer cellphone service. As underscored by the DICT, emergency powers
are needed to reduce red tape in LGUs. We hope that what we have
gathered through this series of hearings will help us craft an FOI-
compliant, fiscally responsible, detailed, particular, and deadline oriented
emergency powers bill. I think this might be our last public hearing. And then,
after that we will be having technical working groups unless something comes
up that we need to call for another one.
• 10/12/2016 | JOINT COMMITTEE MEETINGS/ HEARINGS


COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES JOINT WITH THE


COMMITTEES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND
REVISION OF CODES AND FINANCE

PAGE 7
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE).
Halimbawa, balita ko, may enforcer na rin sa Kalentong at medyo lumuwag na
ang daanan doon. Iyan ay ni-request ko noon sa MMDA chairman. Hindi po
kailangan ng emergency powers, nagkaroon po ng kaluwagan ang—iyan po
iyong Kalentong. So dati po kasi ang daming mga nakabalandra diyan, pero
noong nabanggit natin sa ating huling hearing na nag-request tayo, “Baka
naman pwedeng tutukan,” ay nagkaroon po ng kaunting kaluwagan. Wala
pong emergency powers diyan. Ito ay patunay na hindi lahat ng solusyon
kailangan ng semento pero sentido kumon lang. And many of them do
not require special powers, just simple will power of people with the
courage to introduce them.

PAGE 10

When it comes to spending taxpayers’ money, the rule is that the bigger
the expenditure, the rigorous the scrutiny must be. If the Emergency
Power’s Bill is not the magic wand that will make all our problems go
away, it is also not a magic password that should allow thieves to just
come in and have their day.

PAGE 155

First, allow me to repeat what I’ve said in the past hearings and today’s
opening remarks. There are projects that do not need emergency powers
at all but you can already implement them now.
Second, we expect you to act on the following without emergency
powers: One, do something about having too many unqualified drivers
on the road. These people do not know or understand traffic signs, signals, so
please make sure that the exams— To obtain a driver’s license should really be
professionalized. Hindi yung puro lusot. And especially with the new traffic
programs that you have with the BTR, you have to include that in the exam.
What exactly does that mean pag may dedicated line na ganoon? You have to
be able to revise those exams.

Third, identify and implement designated bus and jeepney stops…….

….Mayroon din tayong concerns regarding the scope and coverage of


emergency powers and whether there are existing plans to back up the
exercise of these powers.

Next, there are questions about whether emergency powers will be supported
with sources of funding. The bill is not supposed to be a supplemental budget.
There is a need to coordinate with DBM and NEDA for purposes of creating
much needed budget space.

• 12/14/16 | SPONSORSHIP SPEECH OF SENATOR POE 


Mr. President, sa ating mga kasama, magandang hapon po sa inyong


lahat.
I stand here before you to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1284 or An Act
Compelling the Government to Address the Transportation and Congestion
Crisis through the Grant of Emergency Powers to the President.
This bill is a consolidation of the Senate bills filed by Senator Drilon,
Ejercito, Cayetano, and Gatchalian. We also took into consideration the inputs
63 from all concerned government agencies, the academe, and stakeholders,
and recommendations from transportation and urban planning experts.
It has come to a point where we plan our lives on how heavy the
vehicular traffic will be, and for millions, gridlock in our streets has become a
painful constant. We do not need statistics to prove how traffic has gone from
bad to worse in mega Manila. Cars move in a glacial pace. The only hope for
fast mode of travel in the metropolis--the trains--have been derailed by lack of
machines and old equipment, poor maintenance, and the greatest culprit that
slows them--bureaucratic inertia.
People, including children who should still be asleep, now wake up
before dawn to catch an MRT train only to realize that the time to queue for a
ticket is now longer than the train ride itself. And they who rise before sunrise
have to go through a harrowing commute just so they can be home by
midnight--as they often post in memes and in social media--pumasok sa tren
na bagong ligo, lalabas na tila mandirigma galing sa isang giyera.
People tend to lose their whole day’s energy even before they set foot
in their offices or schools. The said reality is that for many, the time spent for
rest is less than the time spent on the road. The bus has become their
bedroom.
It is no longer true that it is faster to fly across the ocean than to drive
across town. As anyone who had recently taken a flight out of NAIA would tell
you sometimes, the time spent by a plane queueing to take off is longer than
the actual flight itself. Worse, the flight delays, and the duration of said delays,
have become a norm undermining each and every passenger’s personal
schedule or time.
To be sure, a lot of opportunities, events and occasions have been
missed or lost by thousands of passengers. And anyone flying in gets a free
aerial tour of Metro Manila as planes waste time and fuel oscillating before they
are given clearance to land.
And traffic is not just a Metro Manila disease. It is a virus engulfing the
nation. Metro Cebu is showing the classic symptoms of long commutes and
bumper-to-bumper traffic. Baguio is another. Where once we can stop to smell
the flowers or the pine trees, now traveling within the city is more stop than go
where we can only smell the fumes. Today’s holy land, as they call it, Davao, is
grappling with traffic too. So are Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Lipa, Naga, in many
places in Laguna, and all other big and major cities in Central and South
Luzon.
When commerce and commuters move in a pace that is slow and
unsafe, the toll is high--in economic losses, health cost and productivity
decline. One estimate pegs at P876 billion the annual economic cost of traffic
in Metro Manila alone.
Traffic does not only drain gas tanks, it zaps out our energy, and
makes us feel less happy. Traffic does not only break down cars but, sabi nga
ng mga milleneals, break up relationships na rin.
The culprit is our inability to expand and develop our mass transport
system and our inability to immediately implement already existing plans for 65
infrastructure and transportation management. We do not have a lack of plans,
but a lack of action people--people who do more and talk less.
We depend heavily on private transportation. We junked our rails for
wheels, we sold for scrap our trains which could ferry thousands, and built
roads to make room for more sedans. At its peak, the Philippine railway
stretched 1,140 kilometers in three islands. Now, we only have 43 kilometers of
rails.
In the absence of people movers, people had no choice but to find their
own ride, and today that Pinoy diskarte is used to scrape together enough
money for a down payment for a car that will be amortized in many ―gives.ǁ
Mr. President, people are forced to pay for their desired ―convenienceǁ.
This year alone, the number of four-wheel vehicles sold in the country
is forecast to reach--or even breach 400,000 units. If one in every three cars
will ply Metro Manila streets, then all these brand-new cars would fill not just
one, but two-and-a-half lengths of EDSA--from Monumento to MOA, both
sides, all lanes, bumper-to-bumper, 2.5 times. Or we can compute it this way:
All cars sold in Metro Manila in four months and three weeks could fill both
sides of EDSA.
Car travel is inherently insufficient. It costs at least P750,000 to
transport a person from one point to another by car. Furthermore, a car
occupies at least 13 square meters of public space, even if it is carrying only
one person. Car travel accounts for 30% of trips but accounts for 72% of road
66 traffic. What we need are vehicles that carry more people. Thus, we want
our people to rely on public transportation. Sadly, this is not the case.
A long train of bad ideas, bankrupt programs, botched projects, and
lack of meaningful foresight has made it an accident waiting to happen--the
perfect train wreck upon which the well-being and welfare of the Filipino people
is fighting for survival. It is now time to untangle the mess, one that is so
grave and great that it needs emergency powers to straighten it out.
What is disappointing, Mr. President, is it appears that the burden
to solve the traffics crisis is now on us. Bigla na lamang idinadahilan ng
ibang mga taga Executive Department na hindi sila makakilos ng mabilis
dahil wala silang emergency powers. Many solutions do not require
legislation. In fact, the laws are there, the plans are there, if only they are
implemented. Hindi lahat ng solusyon nangangailangan ng semento.
Kadalasan, sentido-kumon lamang ang kulang.
To them, I say, ―Get off your office chairs, and act now.ǁ You should
inspire the people to have confidence in you, and that will only happen if your
actions will spur results.
Nonetheless, we are granting emergency powers to the President
because losing P3 billion a day due to traffic is alarming enough to
constitute a crisis. This is especially true given the independent JICA
estimates that by 2030, estimated losses will increase to P6 billion a day.
Congress needs to declare a national emergency with regard to
traffic congestion, because traffic from highly urbanized areas is now
spilling over to 67 nearby localities and causing businesses and people
to lose money and opportunities. In figures, around 12.8 million trips are
made in Metro Manila everyday, which is a lot, considering that Metro Manila
has less than one kilometer of road for every 424 vehicles. Currently, 50% of
Metro Manila’s road networks are operating near saturation level, at a volume
or capacity ratio of 0.80% and at an average speed of 20 km/hour.
To address the traffic crisis, our bill declares as State policy the
adoption of ―comprehensive and effective measuresǁ that will immediately
create a transportation system that is ―fast, safe, secure, efficient, viable,
competitive, dependable, integrated, environmentally sustainable, people-
oriented, and inclusive.ǁ In short, it defines the problems, and prescribes the
cure.
By granting emergency powers to the executive branch, we can
achieve the following:
1. Harmonize traffic laws of LGUs and the national government;
2. Provide for the use of Alternative Methods of Procurement under
already our existing procurement law (RA 9184);
3. Compel, empower, and capacitate the executive branch to
implement existing plans (Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program of the
NEDA; JICA plans approved by the NEDA);
4. Compel, empower, and capacitate the executive branch to create
and implement a short to mid-term plan, known as the Traffic Action and
Decongestion Plan, to specifically address the traffic 68 and congestion crisis
we are now experiencing, a harmonized traffic regulation.
Achieving the above requires a focal person, who will be the lead
implementer of powers conferred. This will be the Traffic Crisis Manager. The
Traffic Crisis Manager shall be appointed by the President and shall have
cabinet rank, and pay privileges of a department secretary. He shall have the
opportunity to formulate, coordinate and implement land, air and seaport traffic
plans, projects and programs. He may open private roads, clear sidewalks and
override LGU ordinances that are counterproductive in easing traffic in Metro
Manila.
But the Traffic Crisis Manager cannot just enter the fray without
knowing what he has to do. Thus, we cannot simply build, build and build
without planning for we will end up with a Lego city built by toddlers. We want
order, organization and flexibility in building a city and in connecting regions.
So the first question is: ―Is there a plan?ǁ The DOTr could not give us
a straight answer so we shall give it to them. Yes, there are already existing
plans. We do not have a lack of them. For short term infrastructure projects, we
have the Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program or TRIP, which consists of
plans submitted by various agencies and already approved by the NEDA. We
do not understand why from the very beginning, the DOTr did not reference to
this. For long term projects, we specified in our bill the Roadmap for Transport
Infrastructure Development for Greater Metro Manila and the Roadmap Study
for Sustainable Development for Metro Cebu.
The Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program, however, will simply be
part of the Traffic Crisis Action and Decongestion Plan. This plan encompasses
not just infrastructure but also programs and projects that aim to immediately
address the traffic crisis.
Programs and projects under the Traffic Crisis Action and
Decongestion Plan include route rationalization; creating a uniform Traffic Code
that will harmonize all laws related to traffic management; managing the
volume of users in gateway seaports and airports to avoid decongestion; and
modify, revise, amend, suspend, or revoke franchises; among others.
What about other cities, like Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Iloilo, Lipa, et
cetera? Remember when I emphasized the importance of having a plan?
These cities do not have a ―master planǁ yet. We cannot simply build a flyover
and take it down later because we want to build the BRT. The emergency
powers will empower the executive branch to start feasibility studies on these
areas. We are now compelling them to actually have a legitimate study
because they have none in many areas. However, for immediate relief, the
Traffic Crisis Manager may implement similar systems and mechanisms, such
as implementing a teleworking scheme, clearing of sidewalks, designation of
PUV terminals, et cetera, in many areas.
While this sets the parameters for the projects to be implemented, it
gives the implementers more than enough latitude to maneuver, provided that
they are within fixed parameters.
So what does this bill prescribe, Mr. President? 70
It sets a rules-based exercise of emergency powers. The
Constitution does not permit the executive to write its own emergency
powers in a D-I-Y fashion. It is in obedience to the Constitution that we
have made the emergency powers time-bound, targeted, transparent,
task-oriented, and technology-aided.
Time-bound, because emergency powers given to the President
must have an expiry date. Without this, the element of urgency is lost.
Why call it an ―emergencyǁ if we do not demand for immediate or urgent
solutions? Our bill uses the language of the Constitution that limits the
grant of emergency powers to the next adjournment of session, which is
June 2019.
Second, it is targeted, because it specifies the areas where it would
and may be applied. In this case, the implementation of the infra projects,
subject to an existing plan, covers Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and their
adjoining towns and cities. However, this does not preclude the creation of a
master transportation plan for other areas, especially highly urbanized cities
and municipalities that are already suffering from traffic congestion.
Third, it is transparent because these are emergency powers to
solve problems and not, to borrow a term popular years ago,
―emergency powers to steal.ǁ The power to expedite projects is not a
license to contract expensive projects with kickbacks. Our bill requires the
publication of everything that has to do with the use of emergency powers--
from the policies crafted through this Act down to the updates on projects being
implemented.
It is also task-oriented, because although the weight of this Act falls
heavily on the Traffic Crisis Manager, it empowers him to create an interagency
task force and designate action officers from both the national and local
government.
Hindi naman Superman si Traffic Crisis Manager at lalong hindi siya
ang Dios. Thus, the bill retains the mandate and duties of specific agencies,
such as the DPWH, MMDA, NHA and LGUs. It also creates a Traffic Crisis
Advisory Council, which is composed of not just the pertinent government
agencies, but also members of the academe, non-government organizations,
technical experts and representatives from transport and commuter groups.
As the powers given are great, so are the sanctions for their
abuse. Any violation or non-compliance with any provision in the Act
shall be considered a violation under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices
Act and shall be penalized with imprisonment of one to ten years and
shall be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
Kung mayroon pong pasaway na local government official na
ayaw makisama sa centralized regulation dahil sa pulitika o ano pa man,
ito ay violation at puwede na siyang ma-disqualify perpetually from
running for public office. Kailangan po makisama tayo dito para sa
ikabubuti ng ating bayan.
Kaya iyong mga pasaway sa gobyerno na ayaw maging team player at
nagpapahirap sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto na makakapagpabilis sa
daloy ng trapiko ay mapaparusahan. Ang mga barangay captain na hindi
tumutulong para maayos ang trapiko sa lugar nila at hindi nagpapaalis ng mga
illegally parked car ay maaari ring kasuhan Paano naman iyong nagnanakaw o
kumukuha ng kickbacks? Our law also provides that if they violate an already
existing law, such as the Revised Penal Code or any special act, then the
maximum penalty shall be imposed.
Lastly, our emergency powers bill is technology-aided because if
we will not tap the best solutions science can offer, then we will be
applying more of the same ineffective cures.
Faster Internet connectivity does not only mean faster Facebook
speed. Hindi lamang po pang Facebook ang gamit ng Internet para mag-troll.
We also need this to ensure real-time monitoring of traffic. Katulad kapag
nanonood kayo ng mga news sa Amerika, halimbawa sa ibang bansa, o mga
pelikula, kapag nakikita nilang may emergency, mayroong central traffic control
system na maaaring gawing green light lahat ng intersection with a touch of a
button. Kailangan ganoon din ang ating teknolohiya sa ating bansa at hindi
iyan malayo sa katotohanan kung atin lamang bibigyan ng pagtutok.
We also need this to make sure that people can work from homes.
Kaya nga iyong pagtatayo ng mga cell tower na bibilisan ay dapat nating
payagan para mas mabilis ang internet speed. That is why we also support the
bill of Senator Aquino. Kailangan mabilis ang internet speed para iyong iba na
hindi na kailangang pumasok sa trabaho, sa bahay na lamang. Kung pareho,
puwede tayong mag-tele-conference, video-conferencing at marami pa tayong
73 mga kamag-anak sa abroad na matutuwa sapagkat mas mabilis ang pasok
ng skype and information sa kanila.
First, we will allow the Traffic Crisis Manager and the
implementing agencies to use the Alternative Methods of Procurement
under the existing procurement law, RA No. 9184, by recognizing traffic
congestion as a calamity that needs urgent solution. Our bill's provision
on procurement still remains faithful to RA 9184, with the addition that
bonus incentives will be given to concessionaires who are able to
complete their tasks at a shorter period of time. So, ang ibig sabihin, kung
mabilis pa nilang matatapos ang mga proyekto mayroong incentive-base
reward.
Second, our bill prohibits the issuances of TROs and preliminary
injunctions by lower courts. Thus, only the Supreme Court may issue a TRO
para iyong mga nuisance lawsuits mabawan o maalis.
Third, we intend to limit the number of licenses, permits and
certifications necessary to implement a priority project. Mantakin ninyo,
mismong gobyerno nahihirapan sa dami na kailangan na permits para lamang
makapagpatayo ng imprastraktura. Ang gobyerno kumukuha ng permits sa
iba't ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno at natatagalan. Tayo mismo ang
nagpapabagal sa sarili nating mga proyekto.
And fourth, we shall expedite the acquisition of rights-of-way, project
sites, and relocation sites but with safeguards. For example, we shall provide
for additional funding for informal settler families who need to be relocated.
Hindi naman puwedeng sasabihin natin magpapatayo tayo ng tulay, mayroon
pang mga nakatira doon at wala silang malilipatan. Kailangang mayroong
budget para realistic na makalipat ang ating mga kababayan.
What about PUV operators who will be displaced due to the route
rationalization scheme or other projects that will be implemented? Hindi po
natin sila nakaligtaan. Mayroong mga social support mechanisms na tutulong
at poprotekta sa kanila.
Granting emergency powers to the President may be frowned
upon by some, but the public need not worry since there will be a
Congressional Oversight Committee that will monitor their every move. A
report mechanism is likewise in place. These are in addition to the
transparency provision already found in the bill.
Mr. President, while there are many things that this bill is about,
there are equally many things that this is not. It is not the sole handbook
to fix our traffic problems. It is but one of many.
The Senate needs to do its part to help address the traffic crisis. But
we also expect the executive department to do theirs. If this bill passes into
law, then the executive department will no longer have any excuse and should
stop pointing fingers as to its inability to address the traffic crisis in our country.
I also appeal to our kababayans, sumunod po tayo sa batas trapiko.
Huwag pumara sa gitna ng daan, tumawid tayo sa tamang lugar kahit mas
malayo pa ito sa kinaroroonan, huwag mag-counterflow, et cetera. May mga
pasaway rin na PUV and tricycle drivers na titigil sa unahan kahit green light 75
na kasi kukuha pa ng pasahero o kaya naman gagawa ng terminal kung saan
naman wala.
Ang lakas natin magreklamo tungkol sa trapik pero tayo rin minsan ang
sanhi. Huwag ganun. Hindi ninyo kailangan ng taong papalo sa inyo para
lamang madisiplina kayo. We should exerice self-discipline.
I know that this bill will not undergo smooth sailing--when it
comes to the evaluation of this bill--but we are prepared to be able to
answer and to be able to accept legitimate amendments that will really
help in smoothing out the problem of traffic.
I do hope that this Chamber will do its part in supporting this
measure that could eventually improve the traffic condition of our
country.
Maraming salamat po!

_______________________________________________________________
__________________
Related sources:

• PRESS RELEASE: Sen. Grace Poe on emergency powers


November 12, 2016 // https://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/


2016/1112_poe1.asp

I am tasked, being chairman of the public services committee which


includes air, ground and land transportation, to pass the emergency powers for
the President to solve traffic. But let me tell you, we want to give that
emergency powers already but it's not that easy. Even if we give that to
them, you think traffic will be solved immediately? No. A lot of the things they
can do now, like clearing the places with no parking zones, by making
sure that there are enough parking lots, by making sure that law
enforcers are actually doing their jobs. With the emergency powers, we
have to be careful. Because they want to spend eight trillion pesos, can
you imagine how much money that is. I said, we will give it but we need
to put safeguards para hindi tayo pwedeng pagnakawan. Because the
last time we granted emergency powers, this was in the early 90s when
we had a lot of brownouts and because of that, we had to contract out
more power plants. Until now, we have one of the most expensive power
rates in the world and some people say it's because of the emergency
powers. The government gave so much sovereign guarantees, yun bang kahit
hindi gamitin yung kuryente na iyon babayaran pa rin iyan ng gobyerno. Kanino
pinapasa ang gastos? Sa atin din, kaya nga tipid na tipid tayo...pero when you
go to other countries like Thailand or Singapore...hindi naman nila binabayaran
katulad ng pagbabayad natin.

• PRESS RELEASE: GRACE POE ON JICA REPORT RE WORSENING


TRAFFIC IN METRO MANILA 


February 23, 2018 // http://senate.gov.ph/press_release/


2018/0223_poe1.asp
In order to address this worsening traffic crisis, the government should
develop a reliable and convenient mass transit system, it should build
alternative roads and bridges, it should pursue innovative technological traffic
management solutions, and it should develop economic centers outside of
Metro Manila in order to decongest it. But all of this cannot be done without a
well-thought out plan that can only be carried out effectively through
coordination between the national and local government units. This can be
achieved if we pass the emergency powers bill, which I filed and has
been pending in the Senate.

There is a need to grant extraordinary powers, because current


laws do not adequately provide for the means to expeditiously and
effectively solve this traffic and congestion crisis. Some laws even create
roadblocks to acting promptly.

Unfortunately, the bill should have passed already but is being


hindered by extended debates. Though the President initially asked for
emergency powers, he said later on that he does not need it. This sent
mixed signals to members of the House and the Senate.

As we have witnessed, because of the President's influence and


popularity, the bills he explicitly mentioned to prioritize like the TRAIN, can
hurdle Congress rather quickly.

Despite this, the emergency powers bill is in its advanced stage


of discussion in the Senate plenary. What is perhaps needed to expedite
it through the last mile of approval is presidential certification of urgency.

Because we all know that it is the lubricant which moves legislation.

We are in a war against traffic; but if the people who will receive
such emergency powers will categorically say that the powers are an
ammunition they no longer need, then the onus of solving it falls solely
and squarely on them.

*END*

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