POPULAR PROGRAM | File photo shows queued passengers boarding a bus in Caloocan City on the day free rides were supposed to expire last year. The program has since been extended and served a record number of passengers. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) this week reported a record-breaking number of passengers for the Libreng Sakay (free ride) program, which the agency attributed to the Christmas rush.
On Monday, the DOTr recorded a total of 410,474 passengers in Libreng Sakay — an all-time high ever since the program started in 2020.
The record was made four days after the DOTr relaunched the free ride service along Edsa Busway on Dec. 1.
The free ride service falls under the service contracting program of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Earlier, the LTFRB said it will investigate the reports that some bus drivers in Edsa are still asking passengers to pay despite the 24-hour operations of the free ride service this month. The LTFRB advised the public to report such cases to traffic inspectors along the Edsa Busway.
Last week, the DOTr said it will deploy 650 public utility buses from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 100 buses from 11:01 p.m. to 3:59 a.m. in anticipation of the influx of passengers during the holidays. However, some commuters complained about waiting for hours due to the shortage of buses.
Terminal security
The LTFRB said it will monitor the stations in Edsa Busway to identify which areas have high passenger demand.
Meanwhile, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez filed House Bill No. 6447 or the proposed CCTV Transportation Terminal Surveillance Act that would mandate the installation of closed-circuit TV cameras in all public and private transportation terminals to keep passengers and their property safe, banking on the system’s deterrent effect on crime.
In his explanatory note, Gutierrez said, “A CCTV system is a vital tool in preventing the conduct of crime and ensuring the safety of individuals in the covered areas.”
“The recorded footage of CCTV cameras would further assist law enforcers and government agencies in determining the true party at fault during traffic mishaps and pinpointing the cause of unfortunate road accidents,” he further said.
He pointed out, “The presence of CCTV cameras in heavy foot traffic areas such as public transport terminals would also give peace of mind to commuters with the knowledge that the covered area is under strict security.”
HB 6447 provides, “It is hereby mandated that all public and private transportation terminals, including but not limited to the road sector, such as public utility buses, public utility jeepneys, tricycles, and UV Express vans; railways sector; maritime sector, such as sea ports, wharves, piers, docks, berths; and aviation sector, shall have the prescribed number of CCTV units in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the [DOTr].”
Local governments would be tasked to install CCTV systems on public terminals in their areas while the owners and operators of private terminals would be responsible for their installation.
Operational at all times
The proposed measure would further require that the CCTV systems are operational at all times, the high-definition cameras are strategically placed in “critical and key” areas of the terminals, particularly where there is the most human traffic, as well as the system capability to store data for at least a month.
“Data, images, and videos recorded in the storage device shall have a loop of 30 days or one month before its deletion. Unless a crime was committed, said recordings relative to the crime or incident that is a subject of investigation shall be preserved for the duration of the investigation and resolution of the subject incident, and in cases of court litigation, whether criminal or civil, deletion of the data in the data storage devices or [digital video recorders] shall be upon order of a competent court of law,” it further states.
HB 6447 also ensures the privacy of persons recorded in the CCTV system and data access would only be granted through a court order or in instances of a crime in progress. Law enforcement agents would be allowed access in incidents of hot pursuit for the immediate arrest of a suspect.