Foreign business groups, industry associations and advocacy organizations pressed for the immediate ratification of the bill establishing the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB).
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the signatories said that the PTSB bill “is ready for immediate passage.”
“With the bicameral conference committee of both chambers having been convened, the associations and foreign chambers eagerly await the ratification of the reconciled version,” they said.
The parties said that the measure has been pending before Congress for over two decades already, noting that it was only during the 18th Congress when significant strides were made.
The bill wants to create a non-regulatory and independent agency with the primary task of conducting impartial investigations on transportation-related accidents and incidents. The said body is an attached agency to the Office of the President.
The proposed law also seeks to prevent transportation accidents and make sure that transportation safety standards are duly implemented.
Currently, they noted that different agencies handle the investigations relating to transportation accidents. These include the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Maritime Industry Authority, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
“Once enacted, the new PTSB can commence its programs to discourage the major transportation accidents causing the lives of too many Filipinos,” they said.
The signatories of the joint letter include Air Carriers Association of the Philippines, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
In addition, International Air Transport Association, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc., Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc., Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc. and Safe Travel Alliance also signed.
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