JD drivers worried over suspension

CEBU, Philippines - After the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board suspended the franchises of the 33 other vehicles of JD Rent-a-Car yesterday, the company drivers now wonder what will happen to their families in the next 30 days.

“Naamong lang hinoon mi sa hitabo. Unsa na man lay kan-on sa among pamilya kon wala na kami trabaho,” said one of the drivers when they drove their vehicles to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Center in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, where these will be tested to determine roadworthiness.

The suspension order was issued after reports said that the Hino bus owned by the JD Rent-a-Car that was personally driven by its owner Jaime Batoon encountered an accident in Barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban town, last Sunday when its brakes malfunctioned while the bus was negotiating a curb road killing 21 persons, including the driver.

LTFRB-7 regional director Benjamin Go issued the suspension order for the vehicles’ franchises that will last for one month. It was quickly implemented by regional director Raul Aguilos of the Land Transportation Office who personally went to Lapu-Lapu City to serve the order.

The LTO personnel removed the license plates of the vehicles pending the results of the inspection.

Go said if the results of the inspection show that the vehicles are roadworthy, the LTFRB will lift the suspension order and allow them to operate. 

Batoon’s common-law wife Marcelyn Marimon, who manages their rent-a-car business, assured the transportation officials that she will heed the order and prove to them that their vehicles are roadworthy.

Go said he and Aguilos personally escorted the vehicles of JD Rent-a-Car to the MVIC.

While JD Rent-a-Car owns 33 vehicles, some of them were not at their garage when transportation officials served the suspension order in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday noon because these were used to service some clients.

According to Go they told Marimon that once the other vehicles will be back they will immediately bring them to the MVIC for inspection.

The concerned drivers of said vehicles will also be subjected to drug testing.

Meanwhile, the Cebu provincial government promised to provide for the needs of the victims of the accident.

Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda also said the Provincial Social Welfare Office is making their own assessment of the situation.

“Mag-agad ra ang probinsya sa mga panginahanglan sa biktima ug unsa usab ang ikaabot sa probinsya,” said Sepulveda.

Sepulveda issued the clarification citing some accusations that the provincial government failed to act on the road accident.

He said the provincial government will also wait for the recommendation of the DPWH to ensure safety of the motorists using Transcentral Highway.

Meanwhile, the tourist bus with plate numbers GWZ-666 which remains stuck in the 30-meter-deep ravine after plunging there Sunday morning is set to be pulled out today, Balamban councilor Dave Karamihan said.

The vehicle was supposed to be removed yesterday but Karamihan said the crane Tsuneishi Heavy Industries was to provide was unavailable and the process of lifting the bus needs proper programming.

“Dapat i-program og maayo. Maglisod man og pahiluna sa crane didto sa area so we need a prime mover. So daghan na sad logistics ma-involve. Ug karon sad (as of 6 p.m. yesterday), padung ngitngit na so most possibly ugma na g’yud ma-pull out,” Karamihan said.

He said that a staff of the company and the town mayor, Alex Binghay, visited the crash site yesterday to study what equipment is needed in lifting the ill-fated bus today.

Personnel of the 78th Infantry Battalion continue to secure the area to prevent potential looters from taking from the bus. – Rene U. Borromeo, Niña G. Sumacot and Jose P. Sollano/BRP (THE FREEMAN)