GV Florida franchise bought from tour company cancelled

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday cancelled the franchise bought by GV Florida Transport from Mt. Province Cable Tours covering the unit involved in the fatal road accident in Bontoc, Mt. Province last Feb. 7.

The other 28 franchises originally held by GV Florida were also suspended for six months, starting March 11, for the unauthorized purchase of the franchise of Mt. Province Cable Tours and unauthorized use of the bus unit registered to Dagupan Bus Co. The 28 franchises cover 188 buses.

According to LTFRB’s 25-page decision, the cancelled franchise of Mt. Province Cable Tours earlier sold to GV Florida covers 10 buses.

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said they also took into consideration the results of police investigation that pointed to mechanical failure of the ill-fated bus and the fault of driver Edgar Reynon.

The vehicle involved in the accident was a bus of Dagupan Bus Co. bought by GV Florida. It used a franchise of Mt. Province Cable Tours sold to GV Florida.

The LTFRB said these were violations of the Public Service Code.

It ruled that GV Florida only committed violations in the franchise bought from Mt. Province Cable Tours, and that this could not be said of the 28 other franchises, so it only suspended these for six months.

Since the violation was committed only by GV Florida without the involvement and participation of Dagupan Bus Co., the board considered its explanation.

While the board recognized the business impact of the suspension on the employees of GV Florida, Ginez said it had to penalize the company over the Feb. 7 road mishap that left 15 people dead and 32 others, including the driver, injured.

While the 28 franchises of GV Florida are suspended, its drivers are required to secure competency certificates from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, while its conductors must secure licenses from the Land Transportation Office.

The drivers and conductors are also required to undergo drug testing at least 30 days before the expiration of the suspension of the 28 franchises.

The units of GV Florida must also undergo inspection.

Lei Jimenez, wife of comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez, one of the fatalities, welcomed the decision but said the government must look into the problems of the entire transport sector. She also said the welfare of the affected workers of GV Florida must be looked into.

The board said it would study if and when there are applications for the Quezon City-Sagada route covered by the cancelled franchise.