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Transportation SecretaryArthur P Tugade has renewed his callfor
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
seek p vate cal ban on EDSA presid€ntial emerqency powers tosolve the haffic qridlock on EDSA
House lawmaker
During a House of Representatives hearing 0n his agency's budqet,
AUTHoRITIES should ban all private vehicles on the main EDSA
highway during rush hours to ease traffic in the capital, a con- Mr Tugadesaid itwas possible tosolve thetraffic problem but it
giving powers to the president.
gressman said yesierday. would take l0nger without special

This would make room f0r buses and other publlc utility ve- President Rodrigo R. Duterte earliel said he',vould not beg for

hicles that ordinary citizens can use, Caloo(an Rep. Edgar R. Erice
told reporters.
"We need t0 prioritize the welfare of ordinary workers, the poor
and the lower middie class who don't have cart' he said in Filipino,
About 300,00 privatevehicles pass thlough EDSA daily, compared
with 8,000 buset Mr Erice said. Banning private carswould cutthe
tavel time of ordinary commuters, ho added.
He snid private car 0wners may1lse side streets as altelnbte
r0utes if his proposal is enforced.
The congressman said the plan isjust temporary and may end
emergency powers from congless to solve thetraffic problem
Mr Dutertesaid he asked his otficials notto pursue itanymore af-
powers'
ter a lady senator had said they cotildn't be trusted with more
-Senebr€race Poe-Llamanzares, who heads the public service
committee, earlier said the body was not inclined to grant the Trans-
p0rtation department's renewed plea for emergency powers tosolve
traffic congestion in the capital.
The senator, who opposed a similar proposalin the
past Congress,
said Mr. Duterte could ease traffic in Metro Manila without emergency
powers from congress.

once major road projects are completed including the North Luzon severalbills werefiled in the previous congress seeking em€r-
and south Luzon exprdssway connector road, the rehabilitation ofthe gency powers for Mr. Duterte to easo traffic congestion. The measures

Metro Rail Transit 3 and the Metro Subway. soughtto giv€ the Transportation chief "fullpowef'to managetraffic
Jose Arturo S. Garcia Jr., genenl manager 0f the Metropolitan Manila on EDSA and control road use.

Development Autholity (MMDA), said Mr. Ericet suggestion makes seme. The House appr0ved the billbut the Senate version did not
The Metro Manila Council will meet next month to study all proposals
prosress. The bills have been reJiled in both Houses Vin(e Angelo
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to ease traffic on EDSA and other rpain roads. he told reporters yesterday. C, Fenens

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