Operators urged: Check vehicle’s road worthiness

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board yesterday asked the bus operators, through a resolution, to constantly monitor and check the road worthiness of their buses.

The recent vehicular accident involving a Jegans Bus in Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City wherein seven people were killed and more than 40 other passengers were injured prompted PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy to sponsor the resolution.

Sitoy cited in his resolution a provision of the Local Government Code which protects and promotes the right to health of the people and instills consciousness among them even as local government units are mandated to provide basic health services to their constituents.

The operator of Jegans Bus Liner, the family of former third district congressman Antonio Yapha Jr., earlier admitted that the accident taught them an important lesson that all of their buses must be well-maintained and regularly checked and their drivers must be competent enough.

Yapha’s wife, former PB Member Estrella Yapha, said drivers must be reminded that they should be careful in their trips.

Mechanical problem was earlier cited as the cause of the accident. However, the investigation revealed that the crash was caused by human error and not because of brake failure as claimed by driver Allan Pastidio.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended three units of Jegans Bus Liner following the accident.

Under its new rules which took effect on June 11, 2011, only buses under the same franchise of the one that met an accident will be suspended and not anymore the entire fleet.

Jegans Bus Liner has 11 buses, of which only nine are operating.

With the suspension of their three buses, they are left with six buses running. — (FREEMAN)