LU BOARD’S TRANSPO COMMITTEE INSPECTS TERMINALS, CHECKS COMPLIANCE TO PROTOCOLS
By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros, GPC – SP | Photos By: SP | Date: June 15, 2022
To prepare the kaprobinsiaan in the transition of a new normal way of living, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Transportation chaired by Board Members Frank O. Sibuma and Nancy Corazon M. Bacurnay inspects accredited and temporary transport terminals around the City of San Fernando, La Union on June 15, 2022.
Together with them during the said inspection were representatives from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 1, San Fernando City Police Station, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and San Fernando City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The committee inspected the terminals’ compliance on the health and safety protocols imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force and LTFRB as well as local ordinances and executive orders. Likewise, the inspection team discussed with the transport operators the issues and concerns confronting them which includes heath and safety of the public and resumption of provincial bus operations in the province.
A total of seven terminals were inspected, some found to have disregarded health and safety protocols such as presence of thermal scanners and QR scanning points, triage or isolation area, regular disinfection of vehicles and terminals, and trip manifest or list of passengers for contact tracing.
Other observations that were noted were the lack of appropriate signages, emergency hotline numbers and information desks; and no accessible and clean comfort rooms, convenient waiting area, and facilities such as breastfeeding and resting area. Moreso, the team observed that some terminals do not have an official administrator or manager to oversee the operations of the terminals.
In a focus group discussion conducted right after the inspection, each participating agency provided their suggestions and recommendations to address raised concerns for better and more comfortable transportation of the kaprobinsiaan.
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