Clean sanitary facilities and free Internet access are now required in land transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and roll-on, roll-off (Roro) terminals.
Under Republic Act (RA) 11311, or the Land Terminal Improvement Act, signed by President Duterte on April 17, owners, operators, or administrators of these terminals shall provide adequate sanitary facilities for passengers.
These sanitary facilities should include separate restrooms for persons with disabilities, male and female passengers, adequate ventilation and lighting, safe, adequate and running water supply, flush system, toilet seat with cover, lavatory with toilet paper, mirror, soap, hand dryer and door lock, waste bin and exclusive space for diaper-changing.
The terminals should also have a designated lactation station that is separated from the sanitary facilities.
Collection of fees to access sanitary facilities is prohibited under the new law.
However, separate well-appointed or deluxe sanitary facilities that are operated solely for commercial purposes and for the convenience of passengers who require and prefer such facilities within these terminals are not covered by the new law.
Free Internet will also be provided in the transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and Roro terminals.
Under the new law, owners, operators and administrators of such establishments should fully ensure the speedy and efficient implementation of the new law. A fine of P5,000 per day of violation may be imposed against those who will not comply with the provisions of the law to provide clean sanitary facilities, as well as at least one lactation station and those who will violate the prohibition on collection of fees to access sanitary facilities.
Relevant government agencies, including the Departments of Transportation (DOTr), Health (DOH) and Information and Communications Technology (DICT) are tasked under the law to ensure the provision of all these facilities according to the standards.
The DOTr, DOH and other relevant government agencies shall conduct random ocular inspections to ensure the compliance of establishments with the provisions under the law.
The DOTr in coordination with DICT, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, DOH, and the Philippine Ports Authority and other concerned stakeholders must promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of the new law.
The new law shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two national newspapers of general circulation.
‘Oasis in terminals’
Sen. Grace Poe praised Malacañang Wednesday after President Du-terte signed into law a Congress-approved bill mandating free Internet services and clean sanitary facilities for commuters in public transport terminals.
“We hail the signing of RA 11311,” said Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services that endorsed the long-awaited remedial legislation.
With its enactment into law, Poe said travelers and commuters can now “rest in the thought that after hours in traffic, they can find an oasis in transportation terminals through free Internet connection and clean comfort rooms.”
In a statement, the senator stressed the need to ensure “strict implementation of this law, to see to it that the Internet provided is indeed free and that the restrooms can really give the travelers comfort and rest.”
She added that overall maintenance of these facilities should also be consistent.
Asserting that “a place is known by its people and their cleanliness, Poe, principal author of the measure, appealed to transport operators: “Let our transportation terminals leave a good impression to travelers toward their destination.”
With a report from Butch Fernandez