City mayors have been invited by Senator Grace Poe's committee on public services to the third hearing today, September 24, on the proposed emergency powers to address the worsening traffic in Metro Manila.
However, out of 17 city mayors, only one confirmed.
In an interview with Ted Failon's radio show Failon Ngayon, this morning, September 22, the senator said, "Pupunta si Mayor Bistek..."
She added, "Yun nga yung sinasabi ko na nag-confirm talaga na mismong mayor ang darating ay ang Quezon City, yun pa lang po."
The senator couldn't hide her disappointment in her voice.
"Pero katulad nga niyan, yung binanggit ninyo sa Marcos Highway, ano pang puwedeng gawin? Kasi koordinasyon iyan, e."
Ted reiterated that it could have been a good "case study aside from EDSA" because "ilang lungsod ang sakop niyan."
But when asked if the city government of Pasig would be present at the hearing, the senator said, "Ang Pasig, hindi po, wala akong alam na nag-confirm ang Pasig, e."
Another example that was brought up during the five minute-interview was San Juan, specifically, the Greenhills Shopping Center.
The senator said, "Kasi katulad niyan, pati yung mga kalsada, gawin na nating example ang Greenhills o kaya ang San Juan, Greenhills Shopping Center...walang parking halos.
"Dun sa kalsada, kaya nagkaka-traffic sa Connecticut...
"Magiging [sa] poder iyan ng traffic authority.
"So ang kumikita diyan, siyempre yung city government, di ba?
"Pag tinanggal mo yung mga parking na ganun, aalma ba sila kasi bawas iyan sa kita nila. Yung mga bagay po na ganun."
The plan is to create a central traffic authority.
Sen. Grace asked, "Sino pong magbibigay ng payo dun sa iba't ibang siyudad?
"Alam naman nila yung problema sa lugar nila, hindi lang nila nai-implementa yung solusyon."
The hearing could have been a good forum where the local government leaders can finally put their heads together.
It could not have come at a better time than now when the Christmas rush is looming large in the horizon.
"Oo nga, e. Sayang sa kanila kasi puwede sana nilang iparating yung kanilang mga reserbasiyon, mga reservations nila.
"It's their loss kasi dapat pumunta na sila sana ngayon.
"Ngayon, kung hindi, hindi nila tayo puwedeng masisi na hindi sila kinausap tungkol dito," the senator commented.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Metro Manila Development Authority General Manager Thomas Orbos were also invited.
Sen. Grace added, "Yung iba, magpapadala sila ng representatives."