Sen. Grace Poe, during the Senate Committee on Public Service hearing Tuesday, September 10, questions Department of Transportation (DOTr) officials led by Secretary Arthur Tugade, their masterplan to solve traffic congestion in Metro Manila, particularly the 23.8-kilometer EDSA. PRIB photo
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The country鈥檚 traffic problems have remained unresolved not because of the absence of the proposed emergency powers but because of the lack of a transport master plan, Senator Grace Poe said Tuesday.
Poe insisted that existing laws are already sufficient to address the problems on procurement and right of way acquisition.
鈥淯nder these existing laws, a lot could have been done with or without emergency powers,鈥� she said before terminating the hearing of the Senate committee on public services.
Aside from traffic, the committee chaired by Poe also tackled the implementation of the provincial bus ban, and the proposed emergency powers.
鈥業t鈥檚 not the lack of powers but the lack of a master plan,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have an approved Dream Plan but it鈥檚 unclear if our transport agencies have adopted it for implementation.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not the lack of powers but the lack of a more proactive stand. We need firmer actions from the executive who can very well function if they want to,鈥� Poe further said.
The senator stressed the need for a transportation system master plan, which she said identifies short, medium, and long term projects 鈥渨ith sufficient funding and achievable deadlines.鈥�
During the hearing, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also asked transport officials about a comprehensive master plan to address the worsening traffic problem in the metropolis.
鈥淗ave you presented a plan? Wala pa akong nakikita dito. In the last three years wala pa akong nakikitang presentation dito sa Senado,鈥� Recto said.
Transport Engineer Rene Santiago, who was part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) team that formulated the 鈥淒ream Plan鈥� in 2014, expressed readiness to make the presentation before the committee.
In 2015, Santiago said, the Dream Plan was adopted by the National Economic Development Authority.
But still responding to Recto鈥檚 queries, the engineer admitted that not all sections in the masterplan were being followed.
鈥淪ome of the 11 or 13 bridges plans were not part of the plan,鈥� Santiago said.
Recto then asked: 鈥淢ay mali ba sa plano na kailangang baguhin?鈥�
鈥淎djustments are acceptable but if it changes the whole behavior of the network, it changes the integrity of the plan,鈥� Santiago said.
Drilon pursued Recto鈥檚 line of questioning asking if the said masterplan has been submitted to the Department of Transportation.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade confirmed that the agency had received all the studies and masterplan submitted by Jica two to three years ago.
鈥淵es, we are in receipt all those studies and masterplan submitted by Jica. Yes, we鈥檙e in receipt of the masterplan reviewed by Neda (National Economic and Development Authority). Yes, we鈥檙e trying to follow the masterplan with some changes. These changes are on the structures and facilities,鈥� Tugade said. /kga