Sen. Grace Poe.
PASAY CITY — The Senate Committee on Public Services headed by Sen. Grace Poe assures to pay utmost attention to the deliberations of the proposed emergency powers to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte which aims to solve the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.
Poe says the bills have been endorsed to her committee and she is ready to discuss on the proposal together with the Department of Transportation and various stakeholders.
Senator JV Ejercito, the committee vice chair says it is high time for the country to have an integral transport system reform.
Ejercito is the author of the Special Power Bill which seeks to have a trasport manager who would attend to the traffic crisis once enacted.
But according to the minority, there should be conditions in granting emergency power to the President.
For example, contracts may be published in accordance with the executive order that Malacañang recently issued for the freedom of information.
It aims to protect the interests of the people and create safeguard provisions so that the emergency power will not be abused.
“If we were to have a law on emergency powers for traffic, I believe this should be included. These are not really conditions to make sure to protect the public interest nothing for it being “FOI compliant.” Release the contract for the people to see,” said minority floor leader, Sen. Ralph Recto.
Meanwhile, Sen. Leila de Lima signifies her support to the Special Power Bill in order to solve the worsening traffic situation in the country provided that the bidding process will not be disregarded.
“For as long as they will not do away completely with the bidding process I’m willing to support,” de Lima said. “The plan is good but the risk of abuse is high so the proper safeguards should be there. Then I’m willing to support it.”
(BRYAN DE PAZ/UNTV NEWS & RESCUE)
The post Sen. Poe endorses bill on President’s emergency power to committee on public services appeared first on UNTV News.