A HOUSE leader has slammed the Department of Transportation led by Secretary Arthur Tugade for failing to define the scope of the traffic crisis and for being “confused” on the projects proposed to be covered by the measure.
Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the House committee on transportation which deliberates on the proposed emergency powers sought by Tugade to address the traffic problem, said “the Executive Branch has simply failed to define the scope of the crisis.”
“It is a time-honored principle, even acknowledged by our courts, that the findings of administrative agencies are accorded great respect by reason of your special knowledge and expertise. Sorry to say this but, sadly, on this particular instance, we hope for a better performance,” Sarmiento said.
Sarmiento said the committee, which had to do its own research given DOTr’s incomplete proposal, found out that the traffic crisis was only limited to land transportation, and was prevalent only in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Davao City.
He said: “There is no maritime or aviation crisis to speak of. The crisis is not in our ports and airports but on the roads supporting such ports and airports. We also found out that the traffic crisis is not all over the Philippines or in some unknown areas.
“The traffic crisis is in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and perhaps Davao City. That should have been the first step—defining the scope of the crisis.”
Because of this, Sarmiento said the committee will likely recommend emergency powers that will only cover land transportation.
Sarmiento also criticized Tugade’s DOTr for being “confused” on the projects to be covered by the proposed emergency powers.
“Since the Department of Transportation is confused on the specific powers it needs, we helped you understand that you already have the power to effect change in the transportation sector. When we studied your proposals, most of the powers that you want are either included in your mandates or are already addressed by existing laws,” Sarmiento said.
“Speedy procurement, reorganization, protection from temporary restraining orders [TROs], opening up of private subdivision roads and most of the powers you enumerated per sector can already be achieved just by enforcing your mandates and other existing laws,” the lawmaker added.
Sarmiento chided the DOTr for having no reorganization plan and no proposed negotiation procedure for the projects that would be exempted from public bidding in mind, as well as having no list of projects that it wanted to be protected from TROs or preliminary injunction issued by the courts, except by the Supreme Court.
“We submit that there are laws that can be improved or amended, that is why we asked for these details from you. But when we received your report last week, honestly, we were disappointed,” he said.
Sarmiento said the House panel gave the DOTr a list of so-called low-lying fruits or issues that could already be addressed even without emergency powers, including the issuance of vehicle plates and driver’s license cards, row acquisition for the LRT-1 Cavite extension, route rationalization, and improvement of the Southwest Interim Provincial Terminal.
“We are disappointed that you cannot resolve this issue [row acquisition for LRT-1] considering that you can simply follow the procedure under Republic Act 10752… Route rationalization is the ultimate solution. You have a P250-million budget on this. This should have been started already,” he said.
“If you cannot resolve these issues that do not require emergency powers, how much more if we grant you emergency powers without a defined scope?” Sarmiento added.
Earlier, Senator Grace Poe lamented the dismal performance of DOTr officials in addressing the country’s traffic woes as she scored the inclusion of questionable projects in the DOTr’s proposed emergency powers package.
“I want to be kind, but their performance is really lacking and inadequate. They keep on harping on emergency powers, but they can accomplish a lot even without emergency powers,” said Poe, who heads the Senate committee on public services, which is also conducting hearings on the emergency powers package.
Poe said she was forced to call for a fourth hearing for the DOTr to explain “why some of their projects, which apparently have nothing to do with traffic decongestion, are included in their proposals.”
“While I agree on the urgency to pass a transport emergency powers legislation, I have some reservations as to the list of projects DOTr presented during the hearings…” she said.
“We cannot simply grant emergency powers and say, ‘bahala na’ or ‘it is up to you.’ It is incumbent upon us to supply strict public scrutiny on how the power granted to them will be used,” Poe added.