“Walang forever!”
“Meron! Meron!!!”
One would think that the people
responding to the bitter advocates of February 14 as Singles Awareness Day would be pockets full of sunshine basking in
the glow of couple love. But no, the source of these utterances come from the
exasperated law student late for his 5:30pm class in Diliman as he is stuck on
a bus in Commonwealth for two hours; from the edgy secretary waiting in line, a
line that could be mistaken for a line in an Aldub concert, for a seat in a shuttle to work; from the aggravated
accountant sweaty, squished, and barely breathing in an insufferable game of
human Tetris on the MRT.
The Philippine Transport system
is the worst nightmare for commuters. Congested roads, run-down trains, and
rude, opportunistic and maniacal drivers have been problems since time immemorial.
In 1936, the Commonwealth Act No. 146 otherwise known as the Public Service Act was enacted by the
National Assembly to ensure the quality and proper regulation of land
transportation. It states that “entry to the public transport service has been
administered through a quasi-judicial process that requires proof of ownership,
public necessity and financial capacity.”[1]
This law governs the issuance of Certificates
of Public Convenience (CPC) which are permits to operate land transport
services. In order that the applicants may be granted CPCs, there must,
firstly, be a public necessity for the proposed transport services. Secondly,
the applicants must have the financial capability to operate the services
authorized (after a hearing) in a proper and suitable manner. Lastly, the applicants
must be Filipino citizens.[2]
The increase in the number of
vehicles on the road[3]
shows that this law is not strictly imposed. It would seem that the criterion
of there being a public necessity is overlooked. Perhaps, the LTFRB and all the
other agencies do believe in forever.
[1] http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/comacts/ca_146_1936.html
[2] De
Guzman, Sara. 2009. “Our transport problem is not a priority?”. PhilStar Global. Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/opinion/494354/our-transport-problem-not-priority
[3]
Domingo, Sonny; Briones, Roehlano; Gundaya, Debbie. 2015. Diagnostic Report on
the Bus Transport Sector. Retrieved from http://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/webportal/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1502.pdf
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