Transport safety board bill pushed

The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) is pressing lawmakers to pass the bill creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB)—a piece of legislation vetoed by President Marcos in July of last year—following the unintended shutdown at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) earlier this month.

“The recent incident involving the [Naia] and the alleged faulty air traffic management system has brought air transportation safety—and transportation safety, in general—in the spotlight,” the JFC said in a statement, adding that it was a “strong reminder” to pass a law creating the oversight body.

Regulatory powers

With its statement of support, the JFC joins Safe Travel Alliance and the International Air Transport Association in pushing for the government to reconsider the measure.

The JFC said that all investigations on transportation accidents are currently undertaken by the government agencies that have regulatory powers over the respective sector of the transportation industry, which makes a compelling argument toward its creation.

“Because most of these agencies are also tasked to regulate or operate the sector, there is an inherent conflict of interest in the performance of their duties as investigating bodies,” the JFC said. INQ