Senate to hold provincial bus ban hearing on Tuesday

THE SENATE committee on public services will hold on Tuesday a public hearing on the provincial bus ban, which was put on a test run Wednesday and worsened traffic along EDSA. Senator Grace S. Poe, who chairs the committee, said on Thursday that the hearing aims to shed light on the policy that has brought “matinding kalbaryo (immense suffering)” to those passing through EDSA and make those responsible for the “kaguluhan (turmoil)” accountable. “We will thresh out all these issues in a productive dialogue where all stakeholders will have a voice and will be part of the solution,” she said. The committee will tackle Senate Resolution No. 954, which sought to conduct an inquiry on the proposed traffic scheme. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority pushed through with the dry run of the provincial bus ban, in an attempt to ease traffic congestion, despite a court order issued against it. — Charmaine A. Tadalan