The Land, Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) warned perverts in public that they will now penalize operators, drivers, conductors, and employees who will be committing sexual harassment in public utility vehicles (PUV).
Under the Safe Spaces Act, the LTFRB said that they are looking to address “gender-based sexual harassment” in the streets, public places, cyberspace, workplaces, and schools.
This is encapsulated under LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular No. 2023-016 where the Safe Spaces Act penalize swearing, catcalling, lewd and sexist comments, as well as actions mocking genders, remarks interfering with a person’s private life, and sexual jokes, among others.
Those charged for the first offense, the PUV workers involved in these acts may face a P5,000 fine and six-month suspension of their vehicle’s operation.
For the second offense, they may face a P10,000 fine and one year suspension of their vehicle.
For the third offense, violators may face a P15,000 fine and revocation of the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) of their vehicle.
Should the PUV worker fail to report a sexual harassment incident to authorities, they will have to pay P5,000 fine for the first offense.
The second offense, will have a P10,000 fine and three-month suspension of their vehicle.
The third offense on the other hand will have a P15,000 fine and revocation of the CPC of their vehicle.
Likewise the LTFRB said that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) may suspend or cancel the license of the driver who commits sexual harassment.
The PUV operators are also ordered to display in two conspicuous places inside their vehicles a signage like “BAWAL ANG BASTOS!” and “ISUMBONG SA LTFRB! 24/7 Hotline: 1342 Email: complaints@ltfrb.gov.ph” in a format set by the LTFRB.
Catherine R. Cueto
