A technical working group of the House committee on transportation will begin to rework next week the Department of Transportation’s proposed bill to grant President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the traffic crisis in the country.
The TWG will start drafting the substitute bill after the committee on transportation, chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, conducted marathon hearings on various proposals before the congressional break.
There are at least 10 bill filed by congressmen, DOTr, other government agencies and private organizations pending at the committee.
Sarmiento said he believes the TWG will have an easier task because the committee has now narrowed down the scope of the proposed law to certain metropolitan areas, i.e., Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao, and for the necessary projects to cover only the land transport sector.
“While we have limited the scope of the bill to land transportation, this does not mean that the other sectors have no issues. They may not be under a traffic or congestion crisis but there is much to be improved in our maritime and aviation sectors,” said Sarmiento.
During the committee’s last marathon hearing last October 20, Sarmiento said they want to hasten deliberations on the proposals by running through the provisions of the bill and consulting guest stakeholders and concerned agencies.
Sarmiento said the committee also aims to deal with the effects of implementing the emergency powers bill on families and businesses that depend on the transport industry for their livelihood and will consider possible government solutions.
“These points will be considered in the final tenor of the Traffic Crisis Bill that this committee will approve,” Sarmiento said.
Sarmiento said his panel had already asked all agencies and stakeholders involved to submit their position papers immediately so their concerns will be included in the final output of the committee prior to plenary deliberations on the measure.
The TWG is also expected to discuss the DOTr’s proposed funding requirement, as well as the agency’s projected timeline for the implementation of proposed programs and projects.
Sarmiento said that posts made on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter reveal that some traffic schemes, such as the implementation of the “No Window Policy,” are already being felt by the commuting and riding public alike, especially in the metro’s major thoroughfares.
“We have pointed this out to the DOTr and its attached agencies. There are immediate solutions that only need brain power and political will, like prudent law enforcement,” Sarmiento said.
As a final word to the DOTr, Sarmiento reminded the agency of its mandated task to oversee the movement of people and goods in the country.
“We assume that you are the best of the best transport experts in the country. We have been doing our very best to support you. Please do not fail us…do not fail the nation,” Sarmiento stressed.