House Speaker backs bills that ensure efficient, safe and secure transport system in Philippines
Saturday, November 08, 2008 07:17:32 PM

MANILA, Philippines – House Speaker Prospero Nograles yesterday said that efficiency, public safety and security must at all times be a priority concern of government in the implementation of infrastructure and economic development programs.

"Public safety has become a global concern in any meaningful development program of any nation. The threats of terrorism, aside from the grim prospect of economic meltdown are serious concerns that we must address," Nograles said in a statement.

He urged the concerned committees of the House of Representatives to fast track the various priority reform legislations that would upgrade and update transportation security-related policies and make them attuned to the global scene.

Particularly, the Speaker took note of measures under consideration by the Committee on Transportation chaired by Rep. Monico Puentevella, foremost of which is the proposed creation of the Philippine Transportation Security Authority contained in three similar but separate bills filed by Reps. Roque Ablan, Roilo Golez and Puentebella himself (HB Nos. 859, 388 and 474, respectively).

"The state is alarmed with the increasing global threats of the terrorist attacks on the transportation system and facilities particularly on air transportation. The September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S. Pentagon and towers of the World Trade Center in the United States of America resulted to tragic loss of human lives, damage to property and global disruption in air commerce," the authors said.

Likewise, the 2003 takeover of an air traffic control tower in NAIA by armed elements was a tragedy that could have been averted or prevented with unified security at the NAIA, Golez said.

Puentebella, on the other hand, said our country needs cogent measures to warrant efficient and internationally compliant transport security systems with an effective law enforcement group in all ports, harbors, terminals, infrastructures and facilities in air, land and water nationwide.

He added that the State must enact a singular administrative agency in the transportation sector. "Such legislation should likewise mandate the establishment of measures to prevent weapons, explosives or other dangerous materials, persons, elements, devices and cargoes which may be used to commit an act of unlawful interference, the carriage or bearing of which is not authorized on board a transportation system," he said.

The Committee is also considering the approval of the proposed Maritime code of the Philippines principally authored by Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon under HB 76.

"The archipelagic configuration of the Philippines justifies our heavy reliance on water transport as a major, convenient and, oftentimes, affordable means of transporting passengers and goods to and from major islands," Biazon explained.

Biazon said his bill seeks to update and reform the shipping laws of the Philippines which have earned a reputation for its woeful maritime safety record.

HB 76 intends to upgrade the laws dealing with registration of ships, maritime liens and ship mortgages, maritime fraud, accidents at sea and ship owners' liability, among others.

The same committee is also finalizing HB 3228, authored by Rep. Eduardo Zialcita, which proposes to strengthen and streamline the Philippine Ports Authority.
"Through the years, the port users (domestic shippers, exporters and importers) have complained of low service levels, inefficient port operations and ever-increasing cargo handling charges."

"The failure of the PPA to accomplish its objectives is an indication of a need to reform the country's port administration policy by introducing further amendments to certain provisions of the PPA Charter," Zialcita said.

Nograles noted that the House has already approved on final reading and now pending in the Senate HB 5151 which proposes to transfer the Philippines coast Guard to the Department of Transportation and Communications as an attached agency and redefining its organization and personnel administration.

Likewise, early this year, the President has signed into law Republic Act 9497 which created the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines with its corresponding appropriations.