Adequate transport pushed for holidays

AMID an expected rush of passengers traveling to various destinations this Christmas season, Sen. Mary Grace Poe on Friday said the government should ensure availability of adequate, reliable and safe transportation for holiday travelers.

“For millions whose only option is to take public transportation, public utility vehicles (PUVs) should be readily and safely accessible,” Poe added.

“The lack of PUVs could open the way for fly-by-night and other colorum (franchise-less) vehicles that could jeopardize the safety of our riding public,” she said.

Poe issued the call as the nation commemorates the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, Survivors and Their Families on the third Sunday of November.

Enacted into law as Republic Act (RA) 11468 in 2020, the measure encourages remembrance of the lives lost or people injured in road accidents and promotes road safety.

Poe is the author and principal sponsor of this law.

With the holiday season, the senator said, many families are expected to travel to many places in the country.

“Concerned agencies should work closely with transportation groups and private operators to see to it that there are sufficient numbers of PUVs to transport our people safely to their destinations,” Poe added.

Unauthorized for-hire vehicles usually charge passengers exorbitantly.

Worst, they ply the roads without undergoing proper safety checks, exposing the public to road hazards and increased risk of accidents, she said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there were 5,455 deaths from “transportation accidents” from January to July 2022.

Road crash incidents ranked 12th among the top causes of deaths in the country during the period.

Poe said she hopes the law would be fully implemented not only to remember the road crash victims, but also to draw attention to the crucial task of embarking on shared actions to prevent further road traffic deaths and injuries, and help families of the victims find justice.

“The road tragedies leave a lesson that they should not be repeated, and remind us that the path to safe travel is a shared responsibility,” she added.