The House Committee on Transportation approved yesterday a bill granting special powers for the Duterte administration to address the lingering traffic crisis in the country for a period of three years.
The panel, chaired by Catan-duanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, passed House Bill 4334, which designates the Transportation Secretary as de officio traffic chief to streamline the management of traffic and transportation and control road use in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Davao City.
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone moved for the approval of the bill, principally authored by House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, Sarmiento, and House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas.
“We have agreed to have one law that would address the traffic crisis. Let us approve this bill in principle, with the understanding that the members can submit individual amendments and we can consolidate them to show to the public that we are doing something. Kung dito pa lang na-tra-traffic na ang bill, walang mangyayari sa sitwasyon,” Evardone said.
“This is not perfect measure or a cure-all measure, we are sending a signal to the public that we are doing something (to address the traffic crisis),” he said. (Charissa M. Luci)