Duterte signs law on free internet, better restroom facilities in transport terminals
Credit to Author: RALPH VILLANUEVA| Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2019 03:57:17 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a measure providing free Internet and better sanitary facilities in land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and roll-on, roll-off terminals across the country.
Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11311 in April, copies of which were given to members of the media only on Wednesday morning.
The law mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), as well as the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and other concerned stakeholders to ensure free internet in these areas.
The owners and operators were called to fully ensure the speedy and efficient implementation of the law, which also called for higher standards for sanitary facilities.
It mandated the owner, operator or administrator of the areas to provide clean and sanitary facilities with separate restrooms for persons with disabilities, male and female passengers; adequate ventilation and lighting; safe, adequate and running water supply; a working flush system; toilet seat with cover; lavatory with toilet paper, mirror, soap, hand dryer and door lock; a waste bin; and an exclusive space for diaper-changing.
The owners will also be prohibited from collecting fees from customers to access the sanitary facilities.
The law will also require these areas to establish at least one lactation station, separate from the sanitary facilities.
“The State recognizes that the right of every establishment to a fair return of investment carries with it a corresponding social responsibility to provide adequate facilities for the comfort of its clientele,” the RA read.
The new measure is a consolidation of Senate Bill 1749, which was passed on July 24, 2018, and House Bill 725, which was passed on January 29, 2019.
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