Franchise of bus firm in SLEX mishap cancelled

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday cancelled the franchise of a bus company whose unit figured in an accident on Monday along the South Luzon Expressway, leaving 45 people injured.

All 23 units of Southern Carrier Co. Inc. will no longer be allowed to ply the Batangas-Manila route, the LTFRB said.

The board denied with finality the bus firm’s appeal to overturn an earlier decision not to extend its expired franchise.

LTFRB chief Winston Ginez said Southern Carrier had filed five motions for reconsideration following the expiration of its franchise in 2008.

Ginez explained that under the current rules, a bus company with an expired franchise but has a pending appeal to extend it is still allowed to ply its route.

Southern Carrier has another franchise that covers 30 buses plying the Caticlan-Manila route. 

At least 45 people were hurt during Monday’s accident along SLEX. One woman lost her right hand during the mishap.

“After the accident, we conducted our own investigation and found out that Southern Carrier has a pending application for renewal of franchise,” Ginez said.

Jason Salvador, spokesperson for the Land Transportation Office, said bus driver Sulpicio Marasigan is facing revocation of his driver’s license.

Salvador said they found out that Marasigan had been cited for several traffic violations such as reckless driving prior to the SLEX accident.