Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Committee on Public Services. PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva España
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Saturday expressed dismay over the decision of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos .Jr to veto a bill creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB).
In a statement, Poe said the proposed PTSB could have been an agency to investigate transport accidents “as a global standard which should have been in place.”
The President vetoed House Bill No. 9030 or Senate Bill No. 1077 that would have created the PTSB saying the proposed agency has functions that are already being “undertaken by the different agencies”
But Poe explained that a close review into the provisions of the proposed bill would reveal that all functions and mandates are not at all duplicated.
“An important outcome of the body will be safety recommendations to avert the next accident,” said Poe.
“The veto is unfortunate given that from 2016 to 2020 alone, a total of 483 accidents have been recorded in the maritime sector, while the road sector reported a 12,487 yearly average deaths due to road crashes,” she added.
Poe said that the increasing number of road accidents should no longer be ignored.
“Having a [PTSB] will contribute to strengthening our transportation structure to improve mobility, put people back to work and spur the economy,” said Poe.
Poe said the veto of the measure creating the PTSB will not discourage her from pursuing a law that will make the “riding public the true winners.”
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