Press Release
August 14, 2014

GRACE POE: POLICY REFORMS NEEDED TO SOLVE TRANSPORT
SAFETY PROBLEMS

Senator Grace Poe has filed a measure seeking to ensure the safety of commuters and passengers throughout the country.

"The recent string of transportation-related accidents and misfortunes calls for our immediate attention to find solutions. It is the responsibility of the government to provide commuters a safe, efficient, affordable and accessible public transport service," said Poe.

Poe's Senate Bill 2266 calls for the creation of a National Transportation Safety Board that will investigate and report on air, road, and sea accidents as well as those involving pipeline, railroad, and tracked vehicles.

The Senator noted that the creation of a safety board has become necessary "due to high incidence of transportation-related accidents not to mention the low quality of transport service, high operation costs and inefficient transit system."

Several passengers were injured yesterday after a defective coach of the Metro Rail Transit went out of control and crashed into a barrier at the Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City.

Meanwhile, sometime last June, a bus in Benguet fell off a ravine, killing 13 and injuring 7 people. This was followed by a series of road accidents involving a bus that skidded off the southbound lane of the Skyway, killing at least 18 people.

To avoid repeat of such incidents, Poe said there must be a single public entity that will address the root cause of this disturbing trend and manage solutions to ensure the safety of commuters.

Under the proposed measure, the Board shall be composed of seven members headed by a Chairman, who will have the rank of a Cabinet Secretary, while private sector representatives from the commuters, riding public and transport services are among the members to be appointed.

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