HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT IVES

RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines DATE: O7 Lut 2016
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sath
‘Quezon City Tawi: 22

py:_Mowdle

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular mE 5 are'STRATION UNIT
BULS aN) INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

HOUSE BILL NO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The traffic situation in Metro Manila has reached an alarming scale that it has become a national
disaster. The country loses P2.4 billion in daily potential income due to traffic congestion that
uses up time that could have been devoted to productive pursuits.

However foreboding the situation is, it is not like we are at the mercy of the traffic blight. There
are solutions readily available and there is a basic algorithm for its remedy.

It would take a strong political will to prescribe certain measures necessary and proper to
effectively address the chronic problem. It would take behavioral change and social engineering
to adopt and uphold the traffic measures. It takes a little paradigm shift and a bit of going out of
the comfort zone in order to set forth the parameters that lend themselves to the long-term
‘solution.

This emergency measure seeks to stave off all other emergencies in the future. It would
‘specifically empower the Chief Executive, as allowable under the Constitution, to:

1. enter into direct agreements with contractors for the construction, repair or maintenance
of crucial infrastructure and projects subject to certain conditions
2. reorganize MMDA into a super body and delegate his powers to it as the office of
primary responsibilty with all other land and mass transportation offices being subsumed
under it
. institute state-of-the-art traffic mitigating measures
abolish or create offices as he deems expedient and as far ast is constitutional
._ Tealign existing funds for the purpose of funding certain traffic projects
authorize personnel from different agencies to assist in traffic mitigation \
issue an Executive Order creating the Metro Manila Traffic & Transpdttation Task Force »
having control and supervision over traffic-related offices, such ay/LTFRE, LTO, PNP.
LGUs, ete.

NOGRY

Desperate times call for desperate measures and Congress would [do well to seek the

immediate passage of this proposed bill 7
nel
7 CASTELO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL nol315

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

AN ACT
GRANTING SPECIFIC EMERGENCY POWERS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE METRO MANILA GRIDLOCK

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Metro Manila Gridlock Act of 2016”

SEC. 2. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt timely, adequate and
effective measures to address the Metro Manila gridlock that has taken its toll on national
economy and normal social life.

SEC. 3. To promptly address the Metro Manila gridlock, the following laws or provisions.
are hereby suspended for a period of four (4) years from the effectivity hereof:

(@) Provisions of the Local Government Code (RA 7160) requiring prior consultation with,
and approval of, local government units, with respect to traffic-related projects within
their respective localities;

(b) Provisions of the Labor Code requiring clearances and permits for the employment of
foreigners, as regards foreign technicians working in traffic-related projects;

(©) Provisions of the Urban Development and Housing Act (RA 7279) relating to land rights
and rights of way acquisition of such rights by concerned government agencies for
traffic-related projects.

SEC. 4. The President is hereby authorized to prescribe and implement a more
expeditious process for the issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate for traffic-
related projects, waiving for this purpose the requirements of P.D. 1151, P.D. 1586, Proc, No.
2146 and P.D. 705.

SEC. 5. The President is hereby empowered to reorganize the Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) to make it more effective and responsive to the Metro Manila
gridlock. For this purpose, the President may abolish or create offices; split, group or merge
Positions, transfer functions, appropriations, equipment, properties, records and personnel; and
take such other related functions to carry out the purpose of this Act. Nothing in this provision
shall result in the diminution of present salaries and benefits of the personnel of the MMDA.

SEC. 6. The President is hereby empowered to realign existing funds for the purpose of
carrying out the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 7. The President is hereby empowered to authorize personnel from different
government agencies to assist in the mitigation of traffic in the metropolis.

‘SEC. 8. The President is hereby empowered to issue an Executive Order creating the
Metro Manila Traffic and Transportation Task Force having control and supervision over traffic-
related offices, such as LTFRB, LTO, PNP, LGUs, etc., for a coordinated traffic-control.

SEC. 9. The President is hereby empowered to institute state-of-the-art traffic mitigating
measures, including but not limited to:
(a) Synchronized coordinated signal lights
(b) Smart road signaling
(©) Electronic road pricing
(d) Installation of RFIDs in vehicles
(e) Construction of modular steel flyovers

SEC. 10. The powers herein granted to the President shall be valid for a period of four
(4) years from the effectivity of this Act. Such powers may be extended or withdrawn at any
time by resolution of Congress.

SEC. 11. The president shall make a report to Congress on action taken on matters
delegated to him under this Act at the end of the period herein prescribed.

SEC. 12. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and publication in the Official
Gazette.

Approved,