House ratifies report on establishing transportation safety board

The House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the bicameral committee report on establishing the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB), which would be an independent agency primarily investigating transportation accidents.

The House approved the bicameral report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill 9030 and Senate Bill 1077, which provides a “safe, viable, efficient, and dependable transportation system in nation-building and in promoting economic growth.”

Under its provisions, the PTSB shall be the primary government body that shall “investigate and determine the facts, conditions, circumstances, and the causes of any major or fatal air, maritime, and land transportation accident, or threat of a major or fatal air, maritime, or rail accident.”

The PTSB shall have jurisdiction over all major or fatal transportation accidents or those of alarming nature that result in physical injury or loss of life or property, or those that cause substantial damage or destruction of property or surroundings.

It shall also develop appropriate safety standards to be followed and implemented by the concerned agencies.

It shall also evaluate and harmonize transportation safety standards with the international safety standards and recommend its implementation to all sectors of the Philippine transportation. — BM, GMA News