MANILA, Philippines – Kabayan Representative Harry Roque on Thursday, September 15, questioned the need to give President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the perennial urban traffic problem. 

Roque said during the House transportation committee’s hearing that the term “emergency” is commonly defined as “sudden, unforeseen, and dangerous.” He pointed out that the traffic congestion in Metro Manila has been a long-standing problem.

“But given the common meaning of an emergency, that which is sudden and unforeseen, are we saying that the traffic problem is a sudden problem? It is unforeseen? I cannot imagine that the traffic problem is something unforeseen,” said Roque. 

Department of Transportation Undersecretary Raoul Creencia then argued that the traffic problem affects not only Metro Manila. 

“Given the effect of the congestion, not only in Metro Manila, not only in land but also air congestion, and given the computation of economic losses that we incur every day, it is our position, Congressman Harry, that these can be considered as, and as most versions of the bill we have seen, this can be considered as a national emergency,” said Creencia. 

“Your honor, the suddenness of the occurrence is not actually a characteristic that we have considered but what we have considered is the necessary measure and framework that we need to adopt in order to quickly and expeditiously address the problem,” added Creencia, tagging the traffic problem as a “crisis.”

According to Roque, the Duterte administration might only be asking Congress for emergency powers to get “blanket authority” over the traffic problem.

“In effect, what you’re saying is we want to do our job, unhampered by the law, which is not a specific grant of emergency power but a blanket authority to completely disregard laws when you want to disregard laws,” said Roque.

He said among the reasons behind the request for emergency powers may include exemption of priority infrastructure projects from the Government Procurement Reform Act, which already includes provisions for emergency purchases. 

Creencia responded that giving Duterte emergency powers over traffic would help address the issues that existing laws have failed to do.  

“I agree that most of these are already in the law. But we have seen and we know that all of these are in the law 6 years ago, and look at where we are now,” he said.

“That’s why we need a creative solution, but we need to address the constitutional issues raised by Congressman Harry. These laws were there 6 years ago but look at where we are now,” he added. 

Duterte had urged Congress to grant him emergency powers to address the worsening traffic. 

If this is granted, the government may open up private subdivisions to motorists to ease traffic in Metro Manila as well as move some government offices and factories to nearby provinces. – Rappler.com