PARANAQUE City Rep. Brian Yamsuan has filed a bill seeking to alleviate the difficulties commuters suffer daily by ensuring that mass transportation is not only accessible and affordable but also safe by requiring more stringent licensing and mandatory training for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.
Yamsuan filed House Bill (HB) 2581 or the proposed Magna Carta for Commuters, which aims to “safeguard the rights and welfare of commuters and make them the priority in planning and implementing transport infrastructure projects.”
“As the government continues to implement high-impact transport projects, we need to ensure that these remain commuter-centric. The welfare of commuters should come first in implementing these projects. Our proposed Magna Carta for Commuters aims to make sure that their commute will be affordable, comfortable and safe,” said the lawmaker, a vice chair of the House Committee on Transportation.
Yamsuan questioned the practice of several transportation companies requiring their drivers to work beyond eight hours, adding that many of them also “deliberately” ignore maintenance checks on their vehicles to cut costs.
“Many lives have been lost and the safety of commuters has been placed in jeopardy as a result of road accidents involving reckless PUV drivers or poorly maintained vehicles. One of the key provisions of our proposed Magna Carta is for the government to promote safe and efficient driving behavior by PUV drivers through mandatory training and more stringent licensing,” he said.
Under the bill, the mandatory training shall be subsidized by the government and “shall include modules on commuter rights, PWD (person with disability) accessibility, road safety and basic emergency response.”
The administration lawmaker said the proposed Magna Carta “will add more teeth to the commuter-friendly measures that Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon is currently implementing.”
Yamsuan said thousands of commuters from his home city, where the Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is located, along with millions of other PUV passengers across the country, stand to benefit from the measure.
The bill requires local government units (LGUs) to, among others, “provide a network of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, bicycle lanes, road spaces for non-motorized modes of transport, and waiting areas with proper amenities.”
The measure also proposes discounted fares for students, seniors and PWDs “as well as adequate, accessible and safe infrastructure that ensures persons with special needs are not excluded.”
To ensure the right to clean air, the measure mandates the government “to implement measures that reduce vehicle emissions, and encourage the use of electric and non-motorized transport.”
Commuters also have the right to accurate, real-time and accessible information on transportation routes, fares and schedules. Under the bill, a Commuter Protection Office shall be established at both the national and local levels to monitor and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Magna Carta.
