Gullas mulls inquiry into spate of bus accidents

CEBU, Philippines - Alarmed of the spate of accidents involving buses in Cebu which has already claimed at least 40 lives in a short span of time, First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas mulls a possible congressional investigation into the matter.

Gullas said he will suggest to Quezon City Rep. Sonny Belmonte, who he believes will be the next House Speaker, to have the House committee on transportation look into the incidents as soon as the 15th Congress opens on the third week of July.

Gullas also urged the concerned agencies to “revisit” its rules and regulations with regards to the issuance of franchises and the hiring of drivers.

“There’s a need to revisit rules and regulations regarding franchises and requirements of bus owners and how to pick drivers,” Gullas said.

Gullas was concerned about the series of accidents in the different parts of the province which has already killed 40. The latest of which was the Saturday crash in Toledo City, wherein 15 were killed after a bus grazed into a concrete wall after it reportedly lost its brakes.

The latest accident came just two weeks after a trailer truck slammed into a group of vendors also in Toledo City, killing four on the spot.

Few days prior to it another bus went down a cliff in Balamban town killing 21 people mostly Iranian nationals who were on their way to a pleasure trip.

The series of accidents prompted bus operator Richard Corominas, president of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, to suggest that applicants for a driver’s license should be required to undergo psychological test to determine their mental health.

Corominas also asked the Land Transportation Office to strictly enforce the law as provided for under section 27 of the Transportation and Traffic Code.

The law provides that those drivers apprehended for violating traffic-related laws and later convicted more than twice in a period of one year shall be meted the penalty of suspension of their licenses for a period of two years.

Meanwhile, six drivers and three fare collectors employed by V &JA Bus Company owned by Dulce Gantuangco were subjected yesterday to a drug test. All of them however tested negative. But since the bus company has 11 drivers, including the so-called “extras,” LTO regional director Raul Aguilos said they will require Gantuangco to submit all of them to the drug test.

Aguilos said on top of the drug test the drivers will also be required to undergo a proficiency driving examination to examine their knowledge of the proper driving rules, particularly about defensive driving techniques.

Aguilos said the results of the proficiency driving test and of the road worthiness tests conducted by the LTO’s Motor Vehicle Inspection Center to Gantuangco’s five other buses may be released today.   (FREEMAN NEWS)