Families of Benguet bus crash victims to get P60K

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  - Families and relatives of all the victims of Wednesday’s Benguet highway tragedy can now collect P60,000 for those who died and P12,500 for those who were injured in the mishap as compulsory insurance coverage from the bus company’s insurer.

“The sum is an all risk, no fault insurance coverage,” Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)-Cordillera regional director Federico Mandapat said. “The claimants can now proceed to the Unitrans office just beside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office here at the Pacdal area.”

Mandapat added that Eso-Nice, franchise owner of the ill-fated bus, is also legally obliged to provide assistance to all the victims.

“It is their legal obligation,” he said.

All 42 fatalities have already been identified three days after the horrifying event, touted as the worst highway mishap here this year.

The last two of the fatalities —Celso Bautista, 60 and Luisa Salda Isem, 39 —were only identified Friday evening after Crime Scene operatives of the Cordillera police wrapped up their investigation.

Bautista, Isem, and another victim, Zemy Casisid, are the only ones whose remains were left unclaimed at the Funeraria La Paz here. 

Mandapat summoned the Eso-Nice management on Friday to show cause in a hearing on Monday at the LTFRB office in Baguio “why their franchise should not be cancelled.”

The LTFRB has suspended the bus firm’s franchise for one month pending investigation and re-examination of all of the firm’s drivers. He also directed mandatory drug tests for all the firm’s bus drivers.