According to a lawyer, the government should carefully study the implementation of the window hour scheme as its implementation is not proper at present.
According to Atty. Ariel Inton of Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection, commuters are now struggling because of this policy.
“Magkakalituhan talaga yan kasi wala tayong sapat na pag-aaral dyan. Halimbawa…marami kasi ngayon everyday commuters galing sa probinsya, yung mga karatig probinsya like Bulacan, or even as far as Tarlac. Araw-araw po yan bumibiyahe dahil nandito ang trabaho nila.”
“Yan po ang talagang naaapektuhan kasi they will be forced na mag-transfer, palipat-lipat, kesa naman doon sa dati na diretso sila. Ang maghahari niyan ay mga kolorum. Yan ang magiging sumatotal niyan,” he explained.
According to Inton, the former head of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the provision for the window hour scheme should be placed in the bus franchise once its implementation is carefully studied.
“Doon sa prangkisa ng mga buses, tingnan nila mabuti, wala po yan window hour. Kung gusto nila i-implement yan, kinakailangan ilagay nila doon sa prangkisa yan. Maano yan, malalim na pag-aaral, hindi pwedeng basta naisip na, o window hour tayo, ganoon na lang. Hindi po,” he said.
He added that the government should also ensure the safety of commuters in implementing the said policy.
Window hour scheme should be studied: group
“Hindi pwedeng patsi-patsi na, o may libreng sakay naman tayo. Ang mga commuters, mas gusto nila kahit magbayad sila, basta convenient para sa kanila ang biyahe,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Monday that bus lines may be held liable for the inconvenience caused to riders due to confusion about the window hour scheme.
Thousands of passengers were stranded last week as a result of the window hour scheme’s rollout.
“Whatever this accountability means– penalty or suspension– we do not know,” LTFRB Executive Director Kristina Cassion said.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and LTFRB complained that the measure was confusing.
The LTFRB had previously alleged that the operators were working against the policy.
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