High time to transfer all PUV transactions to LTFRB, commuters' safety group says

A commuters' safety group on Wednesday said it is high time to transfer all transactions involving public utility vehicles (PUVs) to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) following the LeoMarick minibus accident in Nueva Ecija.

Attorney Ariel Inton of the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection said this will allow the LTFRB to better regulate PUVs and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to better monitor private vehicles.

"Dapat pag-aralan na rin na lahat ng tungkol sa public utility vehicles, sa LTFRB na. Lahat ng private sa LTO. Siguro ang porsyento lang naman niyan mga 20 percent lang para kahit sa plaka o registration, everything about public utility, and most important, is the determination of road worthiness and 'yung model nga pala," Inton told Balitanghali.

"Even 'yung pag-issue ng mga professional license, dapat LTFRB na para you can already pinpoint sa ahensya kung saan nagkaroon ng problema," he added.

At least 31 people have been killed while at least 46 others were injured when the LeoMarick minibus, bound for Candon, Ilocos Sur, fell into an 80- to 100-foot ravine on Tuesday.

The incident happened at past 11 a.m. in Barangay Capintalan.

Inton said investigators should also look into the process of how LeoMarick Trans hired the minibus' driver, who was among the fatalities of the accident.

"Siguro kinakailangan natin tignan 'yung ano ng driver, kung paano siya pinili, ilan taon na siya nagmamaneho, ano 'yung pwede pananagutan nitong operator dito sa pagpili at pag-supervise sa driver," he said.

Inton added the driver's death negates possible reckless imprudence charges that could be filed against him, saying the victims may instead seek a civil case against the bus operator.

"Ang remedy diyan, kung talagang gustong magdemanda ng mga biktima against the operator, they need to file a civil case. Of course nandyan nga po 'yung demanda sa LTFRB para dun nga po sa prankisa pero pagdating dun sa damages kailangan sampahan ng isang civil case 'yung operator," Inton said.

The LTFRB ordered a 30-day preventive suspension against LeoMarick Trans on Tuesday.

State of public transport

Inton said the accident may also be a sign of the sorry state of public transportation in Nueva Ecija since authorities said overloading could have caused the accident.

"Nakakalungkot 'yung nangyari dahil marami po 'yung nasawi at mga nasaktan, at itong bus na 'to ay isang minibus na mukhang overloaded," Inton said.

Nueva Ecija Police director Sr. Supt. Antonio Yarra confirmed on Wednesday that the minibus was overloaded.

"Lumalabas na maaaring kulang 'yung public transportation dun kaya kahit na siksikasan na sila sa isang minibus ay pinagtiyatiyagaan ng mga pasahero na ultimately ito 'yung isa sa mga naging ugat nga ng aksidente. Isa 'yan sa nakikita natin na maaaring kulang 'yung public transpo sa lugar," he added.

Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday called anew for the creation of a National Transport Safety Board following the Nueva Ecija bus accident.

The proposed National Transportation Safety Board aims to create an independent and non-regulatory panel that will oversee and coordinate efforts among various agencies involved in overall management of land, air, maritime and railway transportation. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KG, GMA News