MANILA, Philippines — Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has filed a bill seeking the creation of a separate agency to oversee the reliability and security of all modes of transportation in the country.
In House Bill No. 5092,; or the Philippine Transportation Security Act of 2017, the former president proposes the transformation of the Office of the Transportation Security, currently under the Department of Transportation, into the National Transportation Security Regulatory Commission.
The OTS was created during Arroyo’s term as president under Executive Order No. 277.
“An independent and single authority performing oversight function the transportation security becomes essential given the network characteristics of international and domestic travel and the consequent accountability challenges that exist in the transportation sector,” she said.
Arroyo said the local transportation industry is vulnerable to terror attacks, citing the Luneta hostage of 2010.
Recently, airports and train stations in Europe have also been the target of bombings.
“Just like the First World countries in America and Europe, as well as in Asia, the transportation industry in the Philippines is facing challenges in the area of transportation security which, if not systematically addressed, could potentially jeopardize the phenomenal and unprecedented growth the country has been experiencing in the recent years,” Arroyo said. “Thus, defining and criminalizing acts of unlawful interference in transportation systems, and imposing stringent penalties and sanctions to such acts or to any violations of transportation security regulations becomes mandatory.”
Transforming the OTS into the NTSRC could pave the way for the development and improvement of transportation security governance necessary for bringing about a competitive and world-class transportation industry responsive to the needs of a fast-growing economy and to ensuring reliability and security of the transportation services, Arroyo said.
Under her bill, the NTRSC will draw up a transportation security program to ensure compliance with international obligations and harmonize existing regulatory policies.
It will also ensure that all responsibilities of concerned government agencies as far as transportation is concerned are properly delineated to avoid conflicts and establish accountability.
To achieve this, the NTRSC will have oversight powers over the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board, as well as government and private air and sea ports, and land transportation operators.
“The system of accountability ensures that relevant government agencies, as well as industry players tasked to perform functions geared towards deterrence, protection and response to terrorist attacks and other acts of unlawful interference, are performing their functions effectively and efficiently, thereby the reducing the possibility and mitigating the consequences of terrorist attacks,” Arroyo said.
The NTRSC will be composed of a chairman and four members appointed by the president who will have a fixed term of seven years with no re-appointment.
They should not be related by consanguinity or affinity with any investor, stockholder, officer or director of any company engaged in the transportation industry to avoid conflict of interest.