THE proposed emergency powers sought by the Executive to solve traffic could clear roadblocks in completing the P2.8-billion common station project that has been delayed for several years, Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday.
Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services and principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1284 or the proposed Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act, said the government and the private sector could invoke some provisions in the emergency powers measure to avoid delays in the construction of the13,700-sqm common station project.
The common station project would connect three elevated urban railways—LRT-1, Edsa MRT-3 and the proposed MRT-7.
She said the emergency powers bill was currently being deliberated upon in Senate plenary.
Poe said: “It [emergency powers] will help… because I think there’s also certain rights-of-way acquisition.
“It will prevent the lower courts from issuing temporary restraining orders and injunctions. It will harmonize the laws of the local governments units when it comes to traffic to be under the traffic czar. “And it will also allow the government to get into a specialized form of procurement like negotiated procurement.”
Poe said allowing only the high court to issue injunctions would “discourage the not very serious contenders” and those who would deliberately delay the common station project.
According to Poe, the bill’s provision on negotiated procurement would allow the proper maintenance of the trains since “only a few players” have the financial and technical capability.
“This is very important because in maintaining the trains, you only have a few players that are capable enough to maintain those trains. So you need negotiated procurement because they have the technical, legal and financial capability,” she added.
The senator also called on her colleagues to speed up deliberations on the bill and finally put the measure to a vote to enable the government to start with critical infrastructure projects and provide relief to the public.
Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian wants the government to explore options to generate additional income from the project by maximizing the value of the projected foot traffic through the station.
He said the government could make at least P182.5 million per year (assuming P1 of potential income per pedestrian x 500,000 x 365 days) if it bidded out the value of foot traffic to be generated from the government undertaking.
“The foot traffic within the station will be an asset of the government because government created it. The income from foot traffic can be used to subsidize the station’s expenses, and therefore cut down train fares. This way, we can add even more value to this project for the general public,” he said.
He added the foot traffic value could still be included in the contract, which is still under review by the National Economic and Development Authority.
Gatchalian also urged the government to be more circumspect and forward-thinking in future negotiations for contracts with private investors, especially infrastructure projects that provide basic services to the people.