A measure mandating transport terminals to provide free internet services and clean comfort rooms for commuters is now a signature away to becoming a law.
Congress recently transmitted to Malacañang Senate Bill 1749, or "An Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Rest Areas and Roll-On/Roll-Off Terminals," for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature.
The enrolled bill, which was adopted by the House of Representatives, was transmitted by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office to the Office of the President last March 21.
The meaure will lapse into law if the President does not sign it after 30 days from receipt in his office.
Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services and principal author of the measure, expressed hope the President will sign the measure as many students are expected to return to their provinces this school break.
This summer, families are also expected to spend their vacation in several local tourist destinations.
Under the measure, transportation and roll-on/roll-off terminals nationwide should have clean restroom facilities and free internet access.
The terminals must also have separate lactating stations for breastfeeding mothers.
"An efficient and functional inter-province transport system is essential to ensuring that Filipinos travel safely. In particular, rest stops are indispensable for those travelling by land, as they provide a brief 'pit stop' for travellers and bus drivers," Poe said.
"This is especially important for Filipinos who travel for more than eight hours," she added.
She said terminal toilet experience "is one aspect that travellers remember, whether the experience is impressive or horrible. Terminals and toilets are crucial to tourism," she said.
"Toilet issues are not petty matters, but important in satisfying the public's need for healthy living," she added.
The measure prohibits terminal operators from collecting fees from passengers for the use of restrooms. "The concerned passenger must show paid bus ticket in order to avail of the free use of sanitary facilities," the measure stated.
Aside from the free use of the clean toilets, the bill also mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology, in coordination with the Department of Transportation and other concerned agencies, to provide free internet access in the terminals.
While waiting for their trip, Poe said that passengers while away the time checking their social media accounts or attending to their work remotely, which requires the use of free internet, Wi-Fi or broadband.
The owner, operator, or administrator of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and RORO terminals who does not comply with the standards for sanitary facilities will be fined in the amount of P5,000 each day of violation and another P5,000 each day who collect fees from the passengers for the use of sanitary facilities.
Another P5,000 each day of violation will also be imposed on operators or owners as penalty for their failure to provide breastfeeding stations.
Also transmitted to Malacañang on the same day was Senate Bill 1597 institutionalizing and expanding the 20-percent student fare discount to include air and sea transport.
Re-electionist Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, principal author and sponsor of the measure, expressed hope the President will sign the final copy of the bill before students return to their home provinces for the school summer vacation.
Angara said the proposed discount would make the summer break more enjoyable and economical for students and their families, especially those who work hard and regard travel as a necessity rather than a luxury.
Monday, April 1, 2019
Duterte seen enacting budget into law this week
Zambales Rep. Cherry Deloso-Montalla on Sunday said President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign into law the proposed 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget anytime this week.
Montalla said the House leadership has informed lawmakers that the President would sign this year’s budget in the coming week.
“Our budget? We have long been waiting for it. There was an advice that anytime soon, the President will really sign it,” she added.
On March 26, the Senate and House of Representatives transmitted to Malacañang the budget plan after they both signed the ratified bicameral conference committee.
“We at the lower house, we will [always] support the decision of our leaders,” she said.
The Zambales legislator gave her constituents the assurance that funds for their districts have already been set in place regardless of when the 2019 national budget would be enacted.
Meanwhile, House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro described as fake news Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte’s allegations that the House leadership took away P92.3 billion from the 2019 national budget and distributed them to favored members of the House of Representatives.
“I can say with authority that Representative Villafuerte is peddling fake news. I pity my good friend LRay, but I understand where he is coming from. He is one of the former House leaders who stood to gain billions in projects had we not corrected the inequities in the National Expenditure Program,” Castro said.
Villafuerte, for his part, said “the funds that were originally allocated to my district represented funds for programs under the National Expenditure Program, which is the annual budget plan approved and submitted by President Duterte to the Congress.”
“Such projects supposed to be funded by the General Appropriations Act are backed by feasibility studies and have gone through the rigorous review or vetting process by Malacañang. Representative Castro has implied that my district had unduly obtained funds for my district under the previous House leadership,” he said.
http://manilastandard.net/news/national/291451/duterte-seen-enacting-budget-into-law-this-week.html
Montalla said the House leadership has informed lawmakers that the President would sign this year’s budget in the coming week.
“Our budget? We have long been waiting for it. There was an advice that anytime soon, the President will really sign it,” she added.
On March 26, the Senate and House of Representatives transmitted to Malacañang the budget plan after they both signed the ratified bicameral conference committee.
“We at the lower house, we will [always] support the decision of our leaders,” she said.
The Zambales legislator gave her constituents the assurance that funds for their districts have already been set in place regardless of when the 2019 national budget would be enacted.
Meanwhile, House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro described as fake news Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte’s allegations that the House leadership took away P92.3 billion from the 2019 national budget and distributed them to favored members of the House of Representatives.
“I can say with authority that Representative Villafuerte is peddling fake news. I pity my good friend LRay, but I understand where he is coming from. He is one of the former House leaders who stood to gain billions in projects had we not corrected the inequities in the National Expenditure Program,” Castro said.
Villafuerte, for his part, said “the funds that were originally allocated to my district represented funds for programs under the National Expenditure Program, which is the annual budget plan approved and submitted by President Duterte to the Congress.”
“Such projects supposed to be funded by the General Appropriations Act are backed by feasibility studies and have gone through the rigorous review or vetting process by Malacañang. Representative Castro has implied that my district had unduly obtained funds for my district under the previous House leadership,” he said.
http://manilastandard.net/news/national/291451/duterte-seen-enacting-budget-into-law-this-week.html
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