Perhaps there are still many who
could still remember a time when transport terminals offered little in terms of
creature comforts. While vendors and eating places were expected, passengers
were supposed to come and go quickly by land or sea. As the years passed
however, terminals have evolved to offer conveniences that might rival airports.
Having TVs showing television programming or recorded media was just a start.
But that is only the beginning of change, and most of these improvements before
were done as initiative by the terminals’ managements. Now however, such perks
in transport terminals get some renewed enforcement in a recently signed
legislation.
GMA Online News reports that a new law mandating a variety of
comforts in transportation terminals across the country was signed by President
Rodrigo Duterte. This was Republic Act 11311, which actually was passed by Congress
and cleared for the President’s signature as early back as April 17, although
the legislation has only been released for public perusal by Malacañang
this Wednesday, June 19. The new RA will have the Department of Information and
Technology work with the Department of Transportation to see about ensuring
that transport terminals in the Philippines will be able to offer free Wi-Fi
internet connection.
In addition to allowing
passengers to surf on their mobile devices while they wait for their rides, TA
11311 also has provisions to mandate clean restrooms for their general use. The
big change here is eliminating an accepted practice in terminals today:
collecting tolls to use the restroom. Terminal operators will be compelled to
stop the tolls by the law, instead allowing free restroom use to passengers who
can produce a paid travel ticket. On the other hand, deluxe bathroom facilities
are not covered by the legislation and can continue to toll users. There must
also be separate restrooms for male, female and PWD users.
Third, terminals are now mandated
to provide private breastfeeding stations in their facilities, similar to most
major shopping malls, for the convenience of mothers nursing babies. These will
also be free to use. Government inspectors who find transport terminals that
have not implemented the new regulations 60 days from the taking effect of RA
11311 can fine the operators P5,000 daily, with each charge levied for the lack
of appropriate restrooms, tolling restroom use, and the lack of breastfeeding
stations. The initial fine will be subject to review every five years since the
law’s implementation.
All regulations in Republic Act
11311 will apply to transport facilities such as the main terminal hubs (major
cities), stations of bus lines, passenger stops (roadside loading/unloading),
rest areas, and the roll-on-roll-off port terminal facilities.
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