Ejercito Slams Key Agency Chiefs Absence on Senate Hearing on Metro Manila Traffic Situation

Economic Affairs Committee Chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito slammed the absence of several Cabinet members and head of key agencies when the committee convened today, Monday to discuss the worsening Metro Manila traffic situation.

Ejercito invited the Secretaries of DOTC, DPWH, NEDA, DOF, DILG, the Chairman of MMDA, and Secretary Jose Rene Almendras who is currently the Transportation Czar, but all failed to show up in the hearing.

"I expect to see and talk with the heads of agencies we have invited so that we can directly address the issues. Umasa ako na dahil sa bigat ng problema na tatalakayin natin ngayon ay bibigyan ito ng atensiyon ng mga head of agencies. I want to hear directly from them, what their respective department is doing to address the issue. I am really disappointed they didn't come today," Ejercito said.

The chair hopes to focus on the worsening traffic situation and its economic impact which costs P-2.4 billion a day according to a recent study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Ejercito also noted that the slow-paced implementation of infrastructure programs and solutions to the worsening traffic is causing unsustainable economic gains.

"The growth of the economy and the population should also cause the development of the mass transport system. All the needed infrastructures are not in place, that's why it's no surprise we cannot sustain economic gains. The real measure of development is the efficiency of its mass transport system," Ejercito said.

He continued, "With the rate that we are going, I don't believe that we can expect a relief sooner. Five years ago when I was still in Congress, I was presented with the same Dream Plan in solving traffic issues. Five years later, we are still offered the same unrealized dream projects."

Ejercito is expectant to see the head of agencies in the next hearing, which is set on September 14, 2015.