MANILA, Philippines — On his first day back at the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Secretary Vince Dizon started inspecting bus terminals as more people are expected to travel in connection with the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day or "Undas."
As a result, Dizon said on Thursday that he issued show cause orders (SCOs) against two bus companies — the Ohayami Transit and Victory Liner for violations of the required facilities at their terminals in Sampaloc, Manila.
Dizon, who swapped his Cabinet post with ex-DOTr chief and now Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Giovanni Lopez, said that during his inspection, he found insufficient seats and electric fans in the waiting areas and dirty restrooms with no water.
“I have also observed inadequate cashless ticket-selling options which was contrary to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure passenger comfort and safety,” Dizon said.
According to the DOTr, the two bus firms were ordered to explain why their respective certificate of public convenience (CPC) would not be suspended, cancelled or revoked.
For Ohayami Transit, Dizon personally discovered during his inspection its non-compliant restrooms, insufficient space and inadequate ventilation in the passenger waiting areas, lack of adequate seating with backrests, absence of designated resting area for drivers and conductors and insufficient roofing or covered areas.
The DOTr said inadequate water supply in its comfort rooms and also insufficient space and the absence of backrests in its seats in the passengers’ waiting areas were observed at the Victory Liner’s terminal.
“Just imagine, these are only minimum requirements for the bus companies to comply for the operation of their terminals for the comfort and safety of the commuting public and yet they failed,” Dizon said.
Worse, Dizon said, he found out that the passengers were made to pay to be able to enter the terminal restrooms. “That is prohibited,” he said.
