DOTC given ultimatum to heed proposals to upgrade transport network

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ID-100128165The Lower House Transportation Committee is urging the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and its attached agencies to create a master plan and act on its recommendations to improve the country’s transportation sector.

In his State of the Committee Address (SOCA) on July 29, Catanduanes Representative Cesar Sarmiento, who is also chairman of the Transportation Committee, reiterated the committee’s proposals to DOTC and its attached agencies.

These attached offices are the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Philippine National Railways (PNR), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and Metro Rail Transit Authority (MRTA).

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was not present during the hearing.

“It seems the proposals we made after conducting inquiries during the first regular session were not taken to heart,” Sarmiento said. “However, I still think more can be done because we have a year to go before the changing of the (guards).”

The recommendations the panel reiterated during the second regular session include the following: LTO to develop a more competitive driver’s license test; LTFRB to rationalize public transport routes and review 2013 franchises; Marina to comply with standards of training, certification, and watch-keeping convention; PNR to implement and finish projects under its P2.4-billion budget for 2015; LRTA and MRTA to implement rehabilitation projects and equipment upgrade; and CAB to cap airline passenger fares especially on monopolized routes.

Sarmiento gave DOTC and its agencies until August 12 to submit progress reports on issues tackled at the committee hearings.

“Failure to submit by the deadline will mean you will be remembered during the review of the budget proposals,” he said.

The lawmaker also told DOTC to come up with a transportation master plan for land, sea, air, and railway.

“I will not lie to you. Transportation is a messy thing, especially in the Philippines. But I’m still hopeful. We don’t need the money; all we need is a little creativity and a lot of passion to serve the public,” Sarmiento said.

For the third and last session of the 16th Congress, the transportation committee will work on securing the approval of the proposed National Transportation Safety Board Law, taxi passengers’ rights bill, modernization laws for PNR and Philippine Coast Guard, and criminalizing of overloading on sea vessels.

Image courtesy of vorakorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net