By Aerol John Pateña – PNA
MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday welcomed the recent passage of the Traffic Crisis Act by the House of Representatives as this will help improve the traffic situation in the country.
The Traffic Crisis Act will designate the DOTr Secretary as Traffic Chief who will supervise various transportation agencies in charge of traffic management in Metro Manila and other cities across the country.
“Yes, we think it should be a great help. We respect the proposal of the House and we shall await the finalization and passage of this Act,” DOTr communications director Godess Hope Libiran said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
“May Traffic Crisis Act o wala, patuloy na magta-trabaho ang DOTr upang makatulong sa pagbibigay ng solusyon upang mapagaan ang daloy ng trapiko at transportasyon sa buong bansa (Whether there is a Traffic Crisis Act or not, the DOTr will continue working to provide solutions that will improve traffic flow and transportation in the entire country),” she added.
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra III said the bill will facilitate the issuance of franchises of public utility vehicles as it will authorize the transportation secretary to revoke or modify franchises in accordance with capacity requirements of certain routes.
“Being a line agency of the DOTr, Secretary Tugade has supervision over line agencies under his department. I would like to emphasize however that the Traffic Crisis Act is not only about Sec. Tugade taking a principal control over the issuance of franchises because the personnel, system and programs under the LTFRB are needed to implement his plans. We are working closely with Sec. Tugade insofar as issues on franchises are concerned,” Delgra said in a press briefing.
The House has approved last Monday House Bill No. 6425, which seeks to prescribe an “urgent, comprehensive and integrated land-based traffic management” to address the land traffic congestion crisis in Metropolitan Manila, Metropolitan Cebu, and Metropolitan Davao.
Under the bill, the DOTr Secretary shall be designated as Traffic Chief, who shall have power of control and supervision over land transportation agencies, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the proposed Metropolitan Cebu Traffic Coordinating Council and the proposed Davao Administrator.
The Traffic Chief shall have the power to harmonize and enforce all traffic rules and regulations to implement a unified traffic system throughout each of the metropolitan areas and implement programs that will have significant impact on addressing the traffic crisis.
