By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — Solving traffic congestion will be Sen. Miriam Defensor–Santiago’s top priority if ever she gets elected as President in 2016.
“As President, immediately, I will attack the Metro Manila traffic problem,” Santiago said on Twitter.
“Since there are more (people) in the commuting class than in the elite class, the welfare of commuters should be paramount,” she said.
Santiago criticized the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for suspending operations against colorum buses and out-of-line operations, and modifying routes of public utility buses.
The suspension would only “spur the proliferation of unauthorized vehicles,” said the resigned International Criminal Court judge.
Santiago said the government loses about P155 billion every year due to traffic congestion.
Now undergoing treatment for stage 4 lung cancer, the lady senator said she may run in the 2016 presidential election if she fully recovers by December.
“I am not going to be a coy,” she had said. “Society leaders have urged me to seek the presidency.”
Santiago said she wants either Sen. Grace Poe, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City or former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro as running mate.
She revealed that she also considers joining an international advisory council of a nongovernment organization or fly to Washington, United States for a writing grant./PN
