The city council of Manila has passed an ordinance banning commuters from riding jeepneys just at the rear while holding the rails.
According to a “24 Oras” report by Jun Veneracion on Friday, the ordinance only needs to be signed by Mayor Honey Lacuna to be effective 15 days after its publication.
It will then be known as the “Bawal Sabit on Public Utility Vehicles” ordinance.
“Hindi magandang tingnan lalo na sa highly-urbanized city…’yun po talaga ang aming concern, ‘yung safety and security of the passengers. Especially, the students.” councilor Martin Isidro Jr., principal author of the ordinance, said.
(It doesn’t look good, especially in a highly-urbanized city… That’s really our concern, the safety and security of the passengers, especially, the students.)
According to the ordinance, drivers, passengers and conductors will be fined should they be caught with ‘sabit’ passengers.
Violators will be required to pay P500 for the first offense; P1,500 for the second; and P3,000 for the third offense.
Meanwhile, several commuters complained that the “no sabit policy” would only be possible if there were enough public vehicles to accommodate the passengers.
“Kung sapat yung sasakyan, walang sasabit,” said a passenger.
(If there were enough cars, no one would ride at the rear just holding the rails.)—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News
