The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC), along with private sector groups, reiterated the need to immediately pass the bill seeks to reduce major transportation accidents.
In a joint statement on Monday, the foreign business groups called on the House and Senate to ratify the bill establishing the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB).
The groups noted that the bicameral conference committee has been constituted since September last year but has yet to meet. They are hoping that both chambers of the Congress will ratify the bill when they resume session so it can be finally endorsed for enactment by the President.
The PTSB bill, which has been repeatedly filed since 2004, has remained pending for nearly two decades already, the groups noted.
“Only during the current 18th Congress has this bill reached the most advanced stage in both chambers and thus now has solid prospects for enactment,” the joint statement read.
“Once enacted, the new PTSB can commence its programs to discourage and reduce major transportation accidents taking the lives of too many Filipinos,” American Chamber Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe said.
The bill also seeks to create a non-regulatory and independent agency with the primary task of conducting impartial investigations on transportation-related accidents and incidents. The said body is an attached agency to the Office of the President.
Currently, they noted that different agencies handle the investigations relating to transportation accidents. These include the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Maritime Industry Authority, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The proposed law seeks to prevent transportation accidents and make sure that transportation safety standards are duly implemented.
The signatories of the joint letter include Air Carriers Association of the Philippines, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
In addition, the International Air Transport Association, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc., Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc., Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc. and Safe Travel Alliance also signed.