Senate begins its first preliminary hearing on President Duterte’s plea for emergency powers to curb the severe traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
The hearing is being led by Senate Chairman on Committee on Public Services Grace Poe and Vice Chairman JV Ejercito.
Transportation Secretary Art Tugade is making a presentation on the traffic situation to the senators.
He cites the study of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that says, the economic cost of the traffic delays is P 2.4-billion a day.
Tugade is pushing for the creation of a synchronized traffic system for Metro Manila manned by a single agency.
It shall be operating for at least two years.
Poe says, if the Executive Department will be given emergency powers, the parameters must be clear.
Senator Franklin Drilon says, local government units already have the authority to fix the traffic woes in their areas.
The plea for emergency power to ease traffic congestion was aired by Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).