AMID the ongoing deliberations on the proposed P3.35-trillion national budget, Senator Grace Poe is confident the bill that seeks to give President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers can hurdle the Senate before the Christmas break.
She said the Senate is resolved to swiftly deliberate on the emergency powers being sought by President Rodrigo Duterte to address the massive transport crisis and provide immediate relief to the public.
“We are all affected by the problems on traffic and we want to put an end to this calvary,” said Poe.
The senator said her committee is currently scrutinizing the Department of Transportation proposal, initially noting that projects in other urban areas, such as Cebu and Davao, should have formed part of the submission by the DOTr.
Public hearing will resume on Sept. 22 with local government heads, transportation officials and stakeholders invited.
Among others, the proposal authorizes the President, for a duration of three years, to reorganize DoTr, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Civil Aeronautics Board, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group and all other agencies in the transportation sector and rationalize their functions.