House bill proposes standard seat space in jeepneys

A bill was filed at the House of Representatives seeking to standardize seat spaces in jeepneys, the most popular means of transportation in the country.   Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo filed last week House Bill 5850, which requires jeepney manufacturers to provide a standard seating space capacity of 357 millimeters or 14 inches per passenger.   The congressman said this measurement is based on scientific studies on the average “anthropometric dimension of jeepney passengers,” particularly the hip area.   The proposed legislation also requires the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to issue appropriate guidelines, rules and regulations on the standard seat space, to be implemented by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).   Castelo, who also authored the controversial Anti-Planking Bill last year, said the country needs to provide national standards for assembly for customized local road vehicles to avoid passenger overloading and discomfort.   The bill will have to undergo committee and plenary deliberations and voting for it to be passed by the lower chamber. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News