SEN. Bong Go called for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2244, or the proposed Magna Carta of Commuters.
Go said the legislation aims to establish legal protections for Filipinos who rely on public transportation for work, education, health care, and other daily needs.
The measure recognizes mobility as a basic need and aims to guarantee commuters’ rights to safe, accessible, affordable, inclusive, and reliable public transportation. It also seeks to give commuters a formal voice in transport planning and policymaking.
The bill comes amid persistent public transport challenges, including overcrowding, long waiting times, unsafe conditions, inconsistent service, traffic congestion, road crashes, and air pollution. Its explanatory note cites Department of Transportation data showing that MRT-3 and LRT-1 each carry more than 300,000 passengers daily, often beyond safe capacity.
It references the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index, which estimates that Metro Manila residents lose 117 to 127 hours annually due to traffic, along with concerns raised by the World Health Organization and road safety data from the Philippine Statistics Authority and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
“We need to protect the rights of commuters. Public transportation must be safe, affordable, accessible, and reliable,” Go said.
Under SB 2244, public transportation services should be available within a 500-meter walk of residences or activity centers in cities and connected to other transport services within 300 meters. The bill also sets a target waiting time of no more than 10 minutes during peak periods.
The measure seeks to prioritize public transportation in road use and traffic signal operations, allowing vehicles to travel 15 kilometers within an hour, including stops. It also requires properly equipped, adequately sized, and well-maintained terminals and stops that promote commuter safety and comfort.
Special attention is given to pedestrians, cyclists, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, students, poor households, and other vulnerable groups through provisions for safe sidewalks, bicycle lanes, accessible stops, proper lighting, tactile paving, bicycle racks, safe intersections, and pedestrian crossings.
Go said transport reforms should address the realities faced by workers, students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other Filipinos who spend hours commuting each day.
The bill mandates discounted fares for students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and poor households, with government subsidies covering the cost of these concessions.
To improve safety, SB 2244 requires mandatory driver training, stricter licensing standards, and the installation of electronic vehicle tracking devices and CCTV systems in public transport vehicles for real-time monitoring.
The measure upholds commuters’ right to clean air by requiring compliance with the strictest applicable vehicle emission standards and mandating public access to real-time air quality information along major transport corridors.
Transport operators would be required to provide route maps, fares, schedules, and real-time vehicle location information, while ports, airports, and terminals must maintain 24-hour information and assistance counters.
The bill proposes establishing a National Transport Data and Planning Center to collect and analyze mobility data, including road crash statistics, air pollution levels, public transport routes, and travel times.
In cases of service disruptions, passengers would be entitled to refunds and assistance in securing onward travel. If delays exceed one hour and no alternative transport is available, operators must provide food, water, and access to waiting areas with restrooms and ventilation.
Under the measure, students and employees should not be penalized for tardiness caused by disruptions in public transportation services.
To strengthen commuter participation, the bill requires advance public notice of transport-related policies, projects, and regulations and mandates government agencies to respond to commuter feedback within 20 working days.
