Poe urges House to pass version of clean restroom at terminals bill

Sen. Grace Poe. INQUIRER file photo / Edwin Bacasmas

Senator Grace Poe urged the House of Representative Friday to pass a counterpart measure of her clean restroom at terminals bill, which has hurdled the third and final reading at Senate.

“The Senate has done its part, we hope the House will pass a counterpart measure, so that the public can be assured of a worthwhile experience when traveling using our terminals,” she said in a statement.

Last week, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1749 or “Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Resto Areas and Roll-on/Roll-off Terminals.”

READ: Bill to provide terminals with clean restrooms hurdles Senate final reading

The proposed measure seeks to provide the public with clean restroom facilities at all land-based transportation and roll-on/roll-off terminals nationwide.

Aside from free access to clean restrooms, the bill also mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) to provide free wifi access to passengers.

“The terminal toilet experience is one aspect that travelers remember, whether the experience is impressive or horrible. Terminals and toilets are crucial to tourism,” she said.

Poe vowed to ensure that appropriate funding will be allocated to implement the program if her bill becomes a law.

“Toilet issues are not petty matters, but important in satisfying the public’s need for healthy living,” she added. /jpv