The government could decongest Metro Manila next year “without the help of the Senate,” President Duterte said last Tuesday amid the government’s infrastructure program.
Even after Congress refused to grant him emergency powers to ease traffic on EDSA, the President said the government has pursued the “Build, Build, Build” program aimed at improving the country’s transport network.
The massive infrastructure program, that includes road, bridge, railway, and other projects, is partly funded by the revenues from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, according to the President.
“Itong Build, Build, Build. Biro mo galing ka Avenida punta ka ng Caloocan. Just about mga five minutes, nandiyan na. Pero kailangan may sasakyan ka or bus. Iyan na lang ginawa ko,” the President said during a campaign rally in Abra.
“Next year maluwang na ang Maynila without – sans the help of the Senate. Sa Build, Build, Build, ‘yon ‘yung TRAIN. Eh paano ko matuloy ‘yan kung kinakalaban lang nila?” he added.
The President recently inaugurated the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10, a 5.65-kilometer elevated expressway traversing the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, and Caloocan. The six-lane toll road aims to improve accessibility and connectivity between Metro Manila and nearby Luzon provinces.
The President asserted that he “tried” to solve traffic congestion on EDSA when he asked for emergency powers from Congress. The President’s proposal, however, was denied due to concerns it might supposedly be prone to corruption.
Duterte said he has fulfilled his campaign promises except easing traffic congestion on EDSA due to the refusal of Congress to grant him emergency powers.
“Sabi ko ‘yang EDSA, do not blame me, I tried,” Duterte said, citing that some people suspected the public funds would be stolen or wasted.
“Sabi ko ‘pag ganun, ‘wag na. Kaya makita mo ngayon sa Maynila puro daan. Na-elevated skyways na,” he said.
Among the ongoing projects to help ease Metro Manila traffic Duterte mentioned are the NLEX-SLEX connector road project and the first-ever Metro Manila subway.
He noted that Japan has offered to tunnel boring machines in the construction of the subway. “Ang successful lang ‘yung ibinibigay ng Hapon na mga grant. Grant is gratis, libre. And they offered to bore a tunnel there para sa subway,” he said. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
