LTFRB surprised during surprise visit to bus garage

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was itself surprised after it intended to conduct a surprise visit to Unicab Bus company’s garage in Quezon City, only to find it empty. The LTFRB representatives arrived at 7:30 am on Thursday to inspect the company’s buses for compliance with safety and franchise regulations.

The LTFRB has lately been conducting surprise inspections during the past weeks, after the Don Mariano Skyway bus crash and the Florida bus crash in Bontoc, Mountain Province that left 14 people dead.

The LTFRB had sent a “prior short notice” to Unicab Bus the night before inspection to order them to ground all of their buses. The LTFRB and media arrived to find not a single bus in the garage when they arrived.

“It shows something of their compliance, demeanor, attitude nila sa pagsunod sa authorities (in following authorities). It’s one of the violations because they’re supposed to comply with the order of the board,” said LTFRB spokesperson Mary Ann Salada over Inquirer Radio 990AM.

Salada said the LTFRB and the LTO were supposed to verify the bus company’s franchise, the garage dimension and other documentary requirements. They will also check bus markings, chassis and motor numbers.

The spokesperson said they will stay at the garage until all of the buses are inspected. Several minutes later, three buses arrived, the company’s personnel saying they were at a nearby gas station, filling up their tanks.

An hour later, there were seven buses in the garage, out of the 21 owned by Unicab.

Unicab’s operator Alfredo Cabais told Inquirer Radio 990AM that there was a miscommunication with his dispatcher. He said the buses were just at a nearby gas station.

With report by Kristine Angeli Sabillo