House approves on final reading bill banning cell phone use while driving

By Cynthia D. Balana

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a proposed law prohibiting motorists from using mobile phones while driving.

House Bill No. 4571, to be known as the “Anti-Mobile Communication Devices Use while Driving Act of 2011,” called the ban necessary to promote road safety.

Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap, one of the bill’s authors, said that while cellular phones have become an integral part of both business and personal lives, the alarming figures on cell phone-related accidents have transformed this technological gadget into a dangerous device.

“The danger is not only to the lives and limbs of the general driving public but also to the innocent pedestrians,” Yap said, adding that the necessity of using mobile phones could not prevail over the need to prevent road accidents.

Exempted from the ban are drivers of motor vehicles who use cell phones with the aid of hands-free devices and those that perform urgent, emergency and official functions where such limitations will result in greater injury or impair their performance.

Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, another author of the bill, said operating cellular phones while driving in some instances and situations would pose not only inconvenience to other people but danger as well.

“While some cities have enacted local ordinances prohibiting its use by drivers, there is a need to institute a similar measure on a nationwide scale to protect life, limb and property,” Gonzales said.

Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, another author, said multi-tasking behind the wheel would pose danger not only to the driver and his passengers but to other motorists and pedestrians as well.

“Distracted driving, or using a cell phone or other electronic device while driving, particularly texting and reading messages, effectively removes the visual focus of the driver on the road and diminishes his degree of concentration on the safety of his driving,” Acop said.

Under the measure to be known as the “Anti-Mobile Communication Devices Use while Driving Act of 2011,” the use of mobile communications devices while driving a motor vehicle is regulated and penalties are imposed for violation thereof in order to promote road safety.

Motor vehicles include wheeled agricultural machineries, construction equipment and other forms of conveyances, regardless of whether machine, animal or human-powered as long as operated or driven in public thoroughfares under circumstances where public safety is under consideration.

The bill requires the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), in coordination with related functions as well as the private sectors, to undertake a nationwide information, education and communication campaign for six months from its effectivity.

It also mandates the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other government agencies to render assistance to the implementing agency to carry out its effective implementation.

Violators will be slapped with a P10,000 fine and their licenses will be revoked.

Other co-authors of the bill are Reps. Augusto Syjuco, Jr. (2nd District, Iloilo), Diosdado Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga), Irwin Tieng and Michael Velarde (Party-list, Buhay), Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David (4th District, Manila) and Roger Mercado (Lone District, Southern Leyte).

The consumer is king, thanks to competition

Consumer Post

By SOL JOSE VANZI

August 21, 2010, 3:46pm

Competition is one of the best things about democratic capitalism. In the Philippines, nothing illustrates this better than the benefits enjoyed by consumers as a result of liberalization in the field of telecommunications.

There are many of us still around who remember the bad old days when owning a telephone was a status symbol. It was very difficult to get a phone line; applications were known to take six to eight years before approval, if one was lucky.

The most numerous ads in the newspapers’ classified section were those that offered “telephone lines for sale” and the price varied depending on location. Some telephone lines had been known to have sold for P10,000 in hard-to-reach areas. So valuable were phones that heirs had been known to quarrel over telephone lines left unassigned by their departed parents.

The scarcity of telephones was worse outside Manila. Journalists covering events in the provinces had to go to telecom company offices, such as the private PT&T and the government BUTEL (Bureau of Telecommunications) at the post office to send telegrams or make long distance calls to Manila.

By the late 1980s, new telephone companies were allowed to operate, and the entire country was partitioned into franchise areas assigned to be serviced by different telecom outfits. Telephone poles were set up and landlines were strung throughout the archipelago. Immediately, the advertisements for telephone lines disappeared.

By the year 2000, telephone company agents were knocking on everyone’s doors offering telephone lines for extremely low monthly rates. Tents bloomed at parks and special events, all offering instant telephone connections, later even throwing in wireless telephone instruments.

All hail the consumer

At last, the consumer is treated properly. No more waking up in the morning to find the phone disconnected with not a single warning. These days, real human beings call telephone subscribers to inquire and remind about outstanding phone bill balances. The telephone company reps I have encountered have been polite and well-spoken. I ask for their names and call them back after I pay my phone bill and I get the feeling they do manually see to it my phone does not get disconnected.

Telephone linemen, who used to take days to respond to cable problems, now show up almost instantly. And they even phone again the next day to check if the problem has not recurred.

The most recent pleasant change was when a PLDT lady phoned me to acknowledge that their records reflect a payment I made at an SM Bayad Center two days before. At the same time, she reminded me of the balance remaining and the deadline for settling it.

More services and bargains

Competition has also forced the telephone company to offer better, cheaper services. For a minimum flat fee, I get 30 minutes free long distance calls, via IDD (International Direct Dial) to many countries, saving me thousands of pesos a month. I get the same deal for domestic NDD (National Direct Dial) calls to provinces and cities serviced by PLDT. The third service I am subscribed to allows me to call any Smart cellphone, and talk for as long as I want, for R9.90 per call.

Landline cellphones

I carry a second cellphone that has a landline SIM. It costs me a couple of hundred pesos per month, billed with my home landline. My family and friends can call that phone from their landline and reach me wherever I am, and it is not going to cost them anything. And I can phone their landline from anywhere for nothing. Since many of my friends also have landline cellphones, we’re really beating the system and have cut our cellphone bills in half.

Here comes cable TV rate war

In the beginning, there were two: HOME and SKY cable TV companies. When they merged, I sensed doom and higher monthly fees. I was right. From an initial P300, we are now paying close to P800 monthly for the basic subscription.

My neighbors are looking into the offerings of the latest players, who are not literally cable, but offering the same services. They are not cable because they are wireless, and claim that their services will not be disrupted by typhoons and brownouts. Their rates? P250-P450 per month.

Unfortunately, I have no choice but to stick to SKY, which is the only company that telecasts ANC and DZMM Teleradyo,  stations that are vital for us journalists in monitoring breaking news and special events. Sayang!

Published in Manila Bulletin August 21, 2010.