CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is studying the manifestation submitted by the operator of the Ceres bus figured in a recent fatal road accident in Argao town last August 25.
The Vallacar Transit Inc., the operator of Ceres Liner, has submitted its manifestation and other documentary evidences to the LTFRB-7 during yesterday’s hearing of the show cause order issued last week.
LTFRB-7 hearing officer Evelyn Misal said that they will issue an order on the matter soon.
During the hearing, Lowell Dacalos, administrative manager of VTI, told LTFRB that medical and financial assistance have been extended to the victims.
Segismund Delarmente, the bus company nurse and the one in-charge in assisting all the victims, reported that so far, the company have already spent P250,000 in medical expenses for the ten injured victims.
Delarmente said that all injured victims were already discharged from the hospital however, the financial assistance continues for their rehabilitation and other medical needs.
Dacalos said that the company has so far given P50,000 financial assistance to the family of Ma.Teresa Ceballos, the lone fatality of the accident.
The Ceballos family has filed a reckless imprudence resulting to homicide case against the bus driver and demanded P500,000 in damages from the bus company.
“I already referred this matter to our legal office in Manila, because such amount is beyond our (branch office in Cebu) to give. Kay kaming mga branches, up to P50,000 ra among mahatag. Beyond that amount, Manila na ang mo decide ana,†said Dacalos to the hearing officer.
Dacalos added that bus driver, Ernesto Zerna is still detained at Argao Police Station and will be bailed out today in the amount of P30,000 as set.
VTI has 12 branches with 2,400 units of buses nationwide and said to be the biggest land transport operator not just in the Philippines but in Asia.
In Cebu Province, it has 260 buses operating both in the south and in the north reportedly has the most number of accidents.
Dacalos said that based on their report, the recent accident was the 33rd from January to August this year and the most fatal as it resulted to one death.
He added that from January to June this year, they have 31 bus accidents wherein 26 of these said to be at their fault while the rest were not.
Dacalos however said that majority of these cases were minor. (FREEMAN)