Tuesday, December 05, 2006 Board seeks tougher measures on bus security By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THERE is a now a move to penalize bus operators who do not conduct inspection and body check on their passengers for concealed explosives, firearms, and other weapons before allowing them to board their buses.
An increase has been noted in the frequency of broad daylight armed robberies committed inside passenger buses plying Misamis Oriental towns particularly in the existing bus terminals at Gingoog City and Municipality of Balingoan.
A Rural Transit of Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) air-conditioned bus was recently robbed at Salay, Misamis Oriental by unidentified persons posing as passengers who were able to carry with them firearms and board the bus unchecked.
During their regular session Monday, Provincial Board member and committee on public safety chairman Norris Babiera moved for the an ordinance requiring all bus operators in the province to conduct inspection of baggage and cargoes and body check their passengers before allowing them to board their buses.
This for concealed explosives, firearms and bladed weapons. The proposed legislative measure mandates the Municipality of Balingoan to use metal detectors on all baggage, cargoes and passengers before loading and boarding in order to protect the riding public from any untoward incidents.
"There has been an observed increased in the incidents of highway robbery and hold-ups of public buses perpetrated by armed criminal occurring in the eastern part of Misamis Oriental, victimizing the riding public and bus operators," he said.
He added that these "incessant criminal activities on public buses can be avoided if strict security measures are installed and religiously implemented by bus operators and terminal managements in the existing bus terminals at Gingoog City and Balingoan.
Babiera cited how the "general welfare clause" under the Local Government Code provides that it is the "duty of government to protect the people from criminalities" and "in order to maintain peace and order."
"The Local Government Code is mandated to promulgate laws and ordinances that will protect its inhabitants from criminal elements especially the riding public," he said.
Provincial Board committee on rules chairman Francisco Bade lauded the move but requested that this ordinance should not just be for the bus terminals in Balingoan and Gingoog City.
He said the ordinance should also be made applicable to Talisayan, Jasaan, Balingasag and other towns that have bus terminals.
Provincial Board Member Oliver Actub said considering that the ordinance involves imposition of penalties, there should be a public hearing held before the final approval of the same.
Babiera moved that this proposed ordinance be referred to the committee on franchise and committee on police and public safety.
Provincial Board chairman Vice Governor Julio Uy granted the motion.
The proposed ordinance defines inspection and body check-up as "the actual determination and search for any concealed explosives, firearms and bladed weapons."
Section 3 of the proposed measure provides that it shall be unlawful for any bus operator, through his driver, conductor dispatcher and/or terminal in charge, to allow any passenger to board his bus without requiring the passenger to undergo a metal detector test.
"It is illegal to allow the loading of unchecked baggage or cargoes into public buses," this section further states.
Moreover, the proposed ordinance states that since acquiring metal detectors in terminals is an additional cost on the terminal management and bus operators, it is "enjoined that collaborative efforts must be initiated by both parties to raise an amount from terminal fees and charges in order to procure metal detectors."
"The metal detectors will become a joint property of the terminal management and bus operators," it reads.
All bus operators will also be required to sign a "Certificate of Undertaking" with the Terminal Management.
It stated how the undertaking to be signed, the Bus Operator is required to state under oath to follow all security rules and regulations in the terminal and to support jointly with the Terminal Management "collaborative efforts in order to maintain security and peace and order in the terminals."
The mayors' offices of Gingoog City and Municipality of Balingoan must then require the presentation of a copy of the Certificate of Undertaking by the bus operators before issuing the mayor's permit and/or business permit.
The penalty clause for violating this ordinance will include for the first offense a fine of P1,000 will be collected by the local treasurers of Gingoog City and Balingoan while the second offense will be a fine of P2,000.
The third offense will be a fine of P5,000 and cancellation of Permit to Operate and/or imprisonment of three months or both at the discretion of the Courts.
"Fifty percent of all fines collected by the treasurers of Gingoog City and Municipality of Balingoan, respectively, must be remitted to the Provincial Treasurer which will accrue to the general fund of the province," it further states.
