An Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Rest Areas and Roll-On/Roll-Off Terminals, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes

Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand eighteen.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 11311

An Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Rest Areas and Roll-On/Roll-Off Terminals, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress assembled:

Section 1. Declaration of Policy. -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. Towards this end, the State shall hereby require the owners, operators and administrators of land transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and roll-on/roll-off terminals to improve their facilities through the provision of free internet services, and clean sanitary facilities.

Section 2. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

Section 3. Provision of Free Internet.— Pursuant to Republic Act No. 10929, otherwise known as the "Free Internet Access in Public Places Act", the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other concerned stakeholders, shall ensure that free internet is provided in transportation terminals, stations, stops, rest areas and RORO terminals. Owners, operators, or administrators of such establishments shall fully ensure the speedy and efficient implementation of this provision.

Section 4. Standards for Sanitary Facilities.— The owner, operator, or administrator of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and RORO terminals shall provide clean sanitary facilities for passengers which shall be provided with the following:

In implementing this provision, owners, operators, or administrators of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and RORO terminals shall also comply with the applicable standards under Presidential Decree No. 856, otherwise known as the "Code on Sanitation of the Philippines". The DOTr, in coordination with the relevant government agencies, shall conduct random ocular inspections to ensure that such establishments comply with this provision.

Section 5. Prohibition on Collection of Fees to Access Sanitary Facilities. -It shall be unlawful to collect fees from passengers for the use of regular sanitary facilities therein. For the purpose of this Act, the concerned passenger must show the paid bus ticket for the day in order to avail of the free use of sanitary facilities: Provided, however, That the provisions of this Act shall not apply to separate, well-appointed or deluxe sanitary facilities that are operated solely for commercial purposes and for the convenience of passengers who require and prefer such facilities within land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and RORO terminals.

Section 6. Lactation Station. -The owner, operator, or administrator of land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and RORO terminals shall establish at least one (1) lactation station which shall be separate from the sanitary facilities. The lactation stations shall be clean and compliant with the applicable provisions under Republic Act No. 7600, as amended by Republic Act No. 10028, otherwise known as the "Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009" and its rules and regulations. The DOTr, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and other relevant government agencies, shall conduct random ocular inspections to ensure that such establishments comply with this provision.

Section 7. Penalty.—

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), after five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act and once every five (5) years thereafter, review the applicability and enforcement of the fines prescribed in the preceding paragraphs and the necessary adjustments on the amount of the fine imposed subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations.— The DOTr, in coordination with the DICT, LTFRB, DOH and the Philippine Ports Authority and other concerned stakeholders shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, jointly promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Section 9. Repealing Clause.— All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd) VICENTE C. SOTTO III
President of the Senate

(Sgd) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act was passed by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 1749 on July 24. 2018 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment, to House Bill No. 725 on January 29, 2019.

(Sgd) MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA
Secretary of the Senate

(Sgd) DANTE ROBERTO P. MALING
Acting Secretary General
House of Representatives

(Sgd) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
President of the Philippines

Approved: April 17, 2019.