The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will boost the safety of public transportation in the country through the efficient implementation of policies and laws by its existing line agencies.

This came after the bill seeking the creation of the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB) was vetoed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

In a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, DOTr Undersecretary for Planning Timothy John Batan said Marcos’ veto of the bill creating the PTSB was for “efficiency” as DOTr attached agencies are already providing safety oversight and implementing relevant safety laws.

“Ang naging direksiyon ng ating veto statement mula sa ating Pangulo ay ang paigtingin at palakasin ang mandato sa safety regulation ng ating mga existing agencies, instead na gumawa tayo bagong ahensiya (The direction of the veto statement by our President is to intensify and strengthen the mandate of safety regulation of our existing agencies instead of creating a new agency),” Batan said.

These attached agencies include the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for maritime public transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for air travel, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for road public transport.

“Tayo siyempre ay susuporta diyan sa direksiyon na iyan at susundin ang direksiyon ng veto statement ng ating Pangulo ukol dito sa transportation safety (We, of course, will support this direction and we will follow the veto statement made by our President on transportation safety),” he said.

In a letter sent to Congress in July, Marcos vetoed the creation of a transportation safety board proposed under House Bill No. 9030 and Senate Bill No. 1077 as its functions were already being undertaken by attached agencies of the DOTr.

The Chief Executive said creating a new body would only result in “functional duplication, confusion as to authority, ineffectiveness, and deficiency in the performance of the responsibilities.” (PNA)