Congress ratifies free internet access bill in transport terminals

Congress has ratified a measure mandating transport terminals to improve their facilities through the provision of free internet services, clean toilet facilities for passengers and lactating stations for breastfeeding mothers.

Senate Bill 1749, or an “Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Rest Areas and Roll-On/Roll-Off Terminals,” was passed by Congress recently, with the House of Representatives adopting the Senate version.

Senate Secretary Myra Marie Villarica wrote a letter, dated Feb. 20, transmitting nine enrolled copies of the bill for the signature of Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo and acting Secretary General of the House Dante Roberto Maling.

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services and principal author of the measure, expressed hope the bill would be transmitted soon to Malacañang for President Duterte’s sig- nature.

“An efficient and functional inter-province transport system is essential to ensuring that Filipinos travel safely. In particular, rest stops are indispensable for those traveling by land, as they provide a brief ‘pit stop’ for travelers 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 travelers 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 also 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 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 terminals.

While waiting for their trip, passengers spend time checking their social media accounts or attending to their work remotely, which requires the use free internet, WiFi or broadband, Poe said.

The owner, operator or administrator of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and roll-on/roll-off terminals nationwide who will not comply with the standards for sanitary facilities will be fined P5,000 for each day of violation and another P5,000 each day for those who collect fees from passengers for the use of sanitary facilities.

Another P5,000 for each day of violation will also be imposed on operators or owners as penalty for their failure to provide breastfeeding stations.