Veto on proposed Philippine Transportation Safety Board 'unfortunate'--Poe
Senator Grace Poe lamented on Saturday. July 30 that the proposed creation of a Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB) was vetoed.
‘’The veto is unfortunate given that from 2016 to 2020 alone, a total of 483 accidents have been recorded in the maritime sector, while the road sector reported a 12,487 yearly average deaths due to road crashes,’’ she said in a statement.
Poe, chairwoman of the Senate Public Services Committee, stressed the need for an independent agency to investigate transport accidents is a global standard that should be put in place.
‘’A close review into the provisions of the proposed Philippine Transportation Safety Board would reveal that all functions and mandates are not at all duplicated,’’ she pointed out.
‘’An important outcome of the body will be safety recommendations to avert the next accident,’’ she said.
Poe maintained that safety should be no accident.
‘’While we recognize the challenging fiscal position of the government, the mounting toll of road accidents must no longer be overlooked,’’ she said.
Poe emphasized that having a Philippine Transportation Safety Board would contribute to strengthening the country’s transportation structure, which would then improve mobility, put people back to work, and spur economic growth.
‘’The small hitch in its passage will not discourage us from pursuing a law that will make our riding public the true winners,’’ she added.