Bill seeking free wifi, clean comfort room in terminals awaits Duterte nod

MANILA, Philippines — A bill requiring transport terminals to provide free internet services and clean comfort rooms is awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Senate said in a statement on Monday.

Under Senate Bill 1749, or “An Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Rest Areas and Roll-On/Roll-Off Terminals,” the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), is tasked to provide free internet in transport terminals.

Terminal operators and owners are also mandated to ensure that  clean comfort rooms and a lactating station for breastfeeding mothers are available in the terminals.

Operators and owners will not be allowed to impose fees, but commuters will be required to show their paid transport ticket to use the facilities.

Once signed and implemented, the bill will ensure that transport operators who will not comply will be fined P5,000 for each day of violation and another P5,000 for each day of collecting fees from  passengers for the use of the facilities.

Operators and owners of terminals will also be fined P5,000 if they fail to provide breastfeeding stations.

Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services and principal author of the measure, said it will be beneficial to commuters, especially during the summer season when families are expected to travel to their respective provinces for vacation.

“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. /ee

READ: PNP to launch summer public safety plan