Editorial

The comfort of rest rooms

Who wouldn’t want public facilities to be “service deluxe” like those in first-class structures? With Republic Act 11311 signed into law, non-commuters or non-travelers could opt to release their personal necessities in public comfort rooms that are really comfortable and free from charges.

The new law mandates the land transport and “roro” terminals and stop-overs to install and maintain adequate and sanitary comfort rooms or rest rooms in their respective service areas or be meted sanctions/penalties for violation of the edict. The provision of the law requires that these CRs have continuing water service with functional flush system and these four-square rooms be always kept clean and well-maintained like those we enjoy in big malls and first-class hotels. Most of all, we want CRs to smell good, free from fowl odors.

Moreover, the law mandates that these terminals equip these rest rooms with soap, tissue papers, and hand dryers. There is one more plus… these terminals should install wifi for free. Really? Such wonderful and appreciative service amenities.

All these proviso for the “convenience” of the clientele, the riding public. Passengers pay the bills or transport rates and this should be reciprocated with ample services for the comfort of the commuters whom the transport industry serve. These comfort services ought to be part of the business investments. It is dutiful for the transport industry to ferry passengers safely with the accompaniment of comfort. In this way, the transport service industry is continually patronized by the clientele.

In every town and cities, there are terminals and stop-overs, especially on long-distance travel. Commuters need to disembark for personal necessities and they expect real comfort in the rest rooms equipped with amenities that come in handy, free of charge. Most of the trucking services, include vans, have their respective stop-over centers where passengers could use terminal comfort/rest rooms. This time, the law mandates that these are sanitary, well-maintained, and well equipped with handies.

It’s high time that commuters or passengers feel the comfort of the service rooms. That is why it is called COMFORT room. Get it terminal proprietors? And don’t disturb the users, please… give them the extra comfort.

Enforcement agencies, including local government units, will have their hands full to track the serviceability of the terminal CRs. There are also lots of netizens who could report infraction of the law through the use of their cellphones and take photo shots of the “state of CR affairs” as evidence of compliance or violation of the law provisions.

A bit of advise: Let us also use these terminal facilities with care and not steal the toiletries lest terminal proprietors install CCTVs, which would rather expose your personal body parts.

Convenience and comfort is the substance and intent of the law.