Senate bill strengthens rights of passengers
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to strengthen the rights of passengers using taxis and tourist car transport services especially during the holiday rush when road traffic increases and public transport systems face reduced capacity.
“We have not yet seen a law that establishes the rights of passengers with the goal of improving the standard of transport services. To address this issue and prevent further untoward incidents in the future, a passenger bill of rights would protect the commuting public from abusive, itinerant and discourteous drivers of taxis and similar vehicles for hire,” Gatchalian said. This is the mandate of Senate Bill 819, An Act Establishing the Rights of Passengers of Taxis, Tourist Car Transit Services and other Similar Vehicles for Hire, which he filed this 19th Congress.
Public transport services are mostly useful and are in demand during rush hour, holiday season, rainy season, and late nights when passenger safety and availability of other modes of public transportation are primary concerns, noted Gatchalian.
“However, we have seen countless videos and heard sordid stories of passengers who were preyed on or became victims of abusive or negligent drivers of taxis or other similar vehicles for hire,” he added.
The lawmaker said such incidents particularly increase during the holiday season when the demand for taxis and other public transport systems increases in volume. As a result, commuters commonly experience difficulty securing rides amid heavy vehicular traffic and public transport drivers take advantage and ask for additional charges.
“Instead of convenience or cost-savings, some passengers experience being refused carriage or forced to pay an extra amount on top of the meter bill. There are reports that even tourists have fallen victims to these drivers taking advantage of the situation,” he said.
He emphasized that such incidents are often tolerated or ignored due to lack of laws that protect the commuting public.
