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[av_heading heading=’NEXT TARGET: PUV DRIVERS Extra powers for Duterte pushed ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – Aside from drug traffickers, President Rodrigo Duterte should target undisciplined drivers, too, said Rep. Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City.
Should he be given emergency powers, the President should use it to discipline public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators, according to the congressman.
Undisciplined drivers are one of the leading causes of traffic congestion, explained Treñas.
In Metro Manila alone, the government loses P3 billion a day due to the worsening traffic situation, he claimed.
“One big step in resolving our traffic problem is to stop PUV congestion caused mainly by their constant race to hustle for passengers,” Treñas said.
He urged the government to look at enforcing a “well-synchronized” dispatch system for all public utility vehicles plying national roads.
Under Treñas’ proposed dispatch and synchronization scheme, jeepneys will be allowed to load and unload passengers in pre-designated bus and jeepney stops.
It will also allow PUVs to pick up passengers but only in a “short period of time.”
“Through this system, these buses, jeepneys and UV Express will be dispatched a few minutes apart and arrive in the pre-designated loading and unloading zones one at a time…Hindi sabay-sabay ang mga buses, jeeps at UV Express at hindi sila nag-aagawan,” Treñas explained.
Congress is currently deliberating the proposed emergency powers so that the President Duterte can immediately assert government control over the flow and volume of public utility vehicles plying major thoroughfares in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities nationwide.
The pro-Duterte House of Representatives is expected to approve without delay the emergency powers of the President.
In the Senate, a similar measure would likely be approved by December, said Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the committee on public services. Her committee ended its hearing on the proposal on Sept. 22 after 3 sessions.
“I’m all out in supporting the movement led by Speaker Alvarez to give President Duterte the needed emergency powers to solve our traffic problem. I just hope that this would be extended even in other highly urbanized cities and not just in Metro Manila,” said Treñas.
According to the congressman, his proposed synchronized dispatch system is already being implemented in “first world” countries.
“In other countries, you can only ride or get off a bus in designated bus stops. Here in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila, buses would load and unload passengers even at the middle of the road,” Treñas lamented./PN
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