LTFRB suspends bus company's franchise

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended yesterday the franchise of the whole fleet of the Dagupan Bus Lines after one of their buses collided the other day with two other vehicles in Cauayan, Isabela killing at least 10 people and injuring 21 others.

LTFRB Chairman Alberto Suansing told The STAR that he has already directed LTFRB executive director Manuel Mahipus to serve the cease and desist order to more than 100 buses of the transport firm.

“The bus company was directed to surrender all the plate numbers of their buses pending the investigation of the accident,” Suansing said.

He said if the investigation showed neglect on the bus company, LTFRB would recommend the cancellation of the franchises.

The Dagupan Bus Lines operates in several routes in northern Luzon.

Reports from the Cagayan Valley said among the fatalities were eight passengers, including a nine-month-old baby, of the Dagupan Bus Lines that came from Cubao, Quezon City, on its way to Tuao, Cagayan.

Suansing said bus operators were already warned that all their units will be grounded once one of their buses are involved in road accidents killing several people.

Report said the bus was cruising along the national highway and when the vehicle reached the bridge it collided with a Toyota Hi-lux and a southbound Isuzu Dmax pick-up before falling off the bridge in Barangay Tagaran.

The ill-fated bus left the Cubao terminal at around 6 p.m. Tuesday and was expected to arrive at its stopover in Tuguegarao before 6 p.m. yesterday before proceeding to its final destination in Tuao.

Suansing said LTFRB law enforcers will personally remove the plate number of the buses if they defy the suspension order.

Aside from suspension for at least a month, drivers of the bus company involved in deadly road accidents will also be subjected to drug and alcohol tests and must undergo a series of road safety trainings.

Charges readied

The Isabela provincial government extended financial assistance to the victims of the road accident here the other day.

Meanwhile, charges are now being readied against one of the two drivers of the Dagupan Bus Line, which reportedly rammed through two private vans, which resulted in its falling into an 80-foot ravine in Barangay Tagaran, Cauayan City about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Gov. Grace Padaca, upon being apprised of the tragedy, immediately ordered the release of at least P5,000 each for the more than 35 victims of the incident, including the families of the eight persons who died from the said accident. 

Padaca asked the provincial development office to provide the victims of their immediate needs while in the custody of Isabela-based hospitals.

Moreover, the provincial government of neighboring Cagayan, where most of the victims hail from, already claimed its constituents, with those injured resuming treatment at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.

In a news release provided by the provincial government, the death victims were identified as Freddie Agustin, of Quirino, the bus’ alternate driver; Thelma Lozano, Rey Casagan, Marlo Salvador and nine-year-old Wilson Blanche Jr., all from Cagayan; and Isabela residents Waldimar Gumiran, and Perlito Bautista, the driver of the Toyota Hilux pick-up, which the bus rammed into, together with another vehicle before it fell from a bridge.

Except for one death victim who has not yet been identified, all the fatalities have already been turned over to their respective families.