Senate OKs on third reading bill on free WiFi, clean CRs in transport terminals

Voting 18-0, the Senate approved on third reading Tuesday a bill seeking to provide free WiFi access in transport terminals and prohibit the collection of fees for using sanitary facilities in transport stops, rest areas, and terminals.

Senate Bill No. 1749, under Committee Report 286, seeks to mandate owners, operators, or administrators of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and Roll On-Roll Off terminals to provide passengers with clean, sanitary facilities for free.

The proposal also seeks to mandate the establishment of at least one lactation station separate from the sanitary facilities.

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of Committee on Public Services and sponsor of the bill, said the provision will complement and hasten the necessary standards defined in Republic Act No. 7600, as amended by Republic Act No. 10028, or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.”

In her manifestation, Poe thanked the chamber for the speedy approval of the proposed “Land Terminal Improvement Act.”

“With the approval of this measure, our land and Roll-On/Roll-Off terminals will become oases for our travelers. Una sa lahat, hindi na parang premyo sa game show ang malinis na palikuran sa mga terminal. Dapat lahat malinis at walang kinokolekta para gamitin ang mga C.R.,” she said.

“To borrow a phrase from our Senate President, kung saan ka man pumunta ‘mula Batanes hanggang Jolo’—para magpalamig sa Baguio, mag-surfing sa Baler, kumain ng Buyos sa Pangasinan, o magkape sa Batangas—you can expect a brief yet pleasant respite in our terminals,” she said. —VDS, GMA News