Providing free WIFI access and clean toilets are among the recommendations by Senator Grace Poe in what she called as a “win-win” proposed measure to improve the experiences of weary Filipino travelers using transport terminals during their long trips.
“It is an improvement which will be immediately seen and felt,” saiid Poe, chairman of the Senate committee on public services as she endorsed to the plenary the approval of Senate Bill No. 1749, under Committee Report 286, or “An Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Rest Areas and Roll-On/Roll-Off Terminals, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes.
In her sponsorship speech, Poe likened land travel and using facilities and restrooms to a game show because one does not know what he will get into.
“Along the tens of thousands of kilometers of lengthy roads all around the country, land transportation terminals, stations, stops, and rest areas are like sanctuaries for travelers using land transportation,” she said.
She noted that travelling is close to the culture and feelings of Filipinos. She cited the Long Term Vision of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda study: Ambisyon Natin 2040), which stated that Filipinos consider traveling as one of the signs that their family is living well.
She said her proposed measure seeks to improve land transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and roll-on/roll-off terminals through simple, effective and practical measures.
During the committee hearings, the senator said they came up with the following simple but effective proposals:
First, the measure seeks to mandate owners, operators, or administrators of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and RORO terminals to provide clean, sanitary facilities for passengers.
She said this measure harmonizes existing laws and regulations on this matter such as the “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines” and LTFRB’s “Guidelines for Off-Street Terminal Operations”.
Second, it seeks to prohibit the collection of fees from passengers for the use of sanitary facilities in transport terminals. This institutionalizes the LTFRB’s existing guidelines on the same issue.
Third, the measure seeks to mandate the provision of free Internet in these terminals.
“Mr. President, included here is the implementation of the provision of Republic Act No. 10929, or the “Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.” We worked hard to improve acess to wifi of Filipino passengers. This is supported by the DICT and bus operators and land transportation organizations in the country,” Poe said during the hearing.
Finally, Poe said this measure seeks to mandate the establishment of at least one lactation station which shall be separate from the sanitary facilities.
“This provision will complement and hasten the necessary standard defined in another law, Republic Act No. 7600, as amended by Republic Act No. 10028, otherwise known as the "Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,” she said.
She said the measure harmonizes existing laws and regulations such as the “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines” and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s “Guidelines for Off-Street Terminal Operations.”
Poe said the bill also seeks to prohibit the collection of fees from passengers for the use of sanitary facilities in transport terminals. She said this institutionalizes the LTFRB’s existing guidelines on the same issue.