LTFRB to summon bus firm over NLEX crash

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said on Tuesday that they would issue a show cause order on the bus company involved in a crash along the North Luzon Expressway in Valenzuela City.

“Alin sunod sa kautusan po ni Secretary Vince Dizon, mag i-issue po ng show cause order dito sa bus [company] na ito, dito nga sa sinangkutan nilang aksidente kagabi,” LTFRB spokesperson Atty. Ariel Inton said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(In line with the directive of Secretary Vince Dizon, a show cause order will be issued to the bus involved in last night’s accident.)

According to a report on State of the Nation aired on GTV, the incident occurred Monday evening when the bus changed lanes and collided with a closed van and a dump truck.

Two of the bus’s 40 passengers sustained injuries.

Inton added that they were checking whether the bus had been involved in previous incidents. But so far, they had not found any prior records.

“Hahanapan po namin kung meron. Pero sa ngayon po, dahil kagabi lang po nangyari ito, kailangan lang po natin munang ma-issuhan ng show cause order ito,” he said.

(We will look into it. But for now, since the accident just happened last night, the immediate step is to issue a show-cause order.)

Accident insurance

Inton reminded the public that passengers of public transport vehicles are covered by personal accident insurance in the event of a crash.

“‘Yung personal accident insurance. ‘Yan po ay kapag pasahero po kayo ng public transport at nagkaroon po ng aksidente ay insured po kayo at meron pong ano ‘yan. ‘Yun pong gastos sa ospital, ‘yan po ang sasagot diyan,” he said, adding that the vehicle involved will shoulder the cost through its insurance provider.

(If you're a passenger of public transport and an accident occurs, you are insured. Hospital expenses will be covered.)

He also encouraged passengers involved in accidents to seek medical attention to ensure their claims are processed.

“We advise them na magpa ospital po sila dahil meron pong kaakibat na insurance po ‘yan,” he said.

(We advise passengers to go to the hospital because there is corresponding insurance coverage.)

However, Inton warned against riding colorum or unregistered vehicles, as these do not carry insurance.

“Ang amin pong pakiusap sa mga pasahero, ‘wag po tayong papatol diyan dahil wala pong insurance ang mga colorum vehicle. ‘Yun pong mga driver niyan hindi po natin alam kung ‘yan po ba ay professional or ika nga dumaan po yan sa test,” he said.

(We’re appealing to passengers: don’t take colorum vehicles. They have no insurance, and we can’t be sure whether their drivers are professionals or properly tested.)

“Tapos ‘yun pong unit, hindi po na inspect ‘yan. So talaga pong sugal para sa kanila na sumakay po dito,” he added.

(Those units are not inspected either. So riding them is a real gamble.)

Reckless driving

In a separate statement, LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III ordered a full crackdown on reckless public utility drivers.

The LTFRB said it was coordinating with the Land Transportation Office, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and local government units to hold drivers who violate traffic regulations accountable.

Guadiz also warned that operators who fail to discipline their drivers may face administrative sanctions or preventive suspension of their franchises.

“We are moving now—not after another accident. We’re auditing operators with repeated violations and will revoke franchises if necessary,” he said.

The public may report complaints via the LTFRB’s hotline 1342 or through the agency’s official Facebook page. — DVM, GMA Integrated News