Keep PH roads safe, transport agencies urged

In this 2014 photo, the wreckage of a Florida bus rests on the bottom of a ravine in Bontoc town in Mountain Province after its driver lost control of the vehicle. —RICHARD BALONGLONG

SOLANO, NUEVA VIZCAYA—The road crash that killed a bus driver and injured his 27 passengers on Feb. 3 here has drawn the attention of a road safety advocacy group, after records of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) indicated that the GV Florida bus involved in the crash had an expired permit to operate.

“No family should ever have to go through losing a loved one because of the irresponsibility and lack of accountability of bus companies in ensuring that the riding public has a safe, convenient and comfortable commute,” said Micheline Rama, executive director of the artists’ group Dakila.

Tado’s death

Comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez, one of Dakila’s founding directors, was among 14 passengers, including two foreign tourists, who died when a GV Florida bus plunged into a ravine in Barangay Talubin in Bontoc, Mountain Province, on Feb. 7, 2014.

Last week’s crash saw a GV Florida bus (body No.  757), bound for Maddela town in Quirino province, fall into a rice field, killing driver Michaelangelo Santos.

But the firm’s owner, Virgilio Florida Jr., said the bus was operating legally.

“We do not let any of our buses run with incomplete (transport) papers. In fact, the bus that crashed was one of our newer units,” he said.

LTFRB records showed that Bus No. 757’s Maddela-Manila franchise expired on Jan. 5. The firm, however, applied for an extension on Aug. 10, 2016.

LTFRB personnel did not provide any explanation as to why the approval of the franchise took more than four months, instead of the usual 72-day processing.

 Reforms

Agency sources said they allowed buses with expired franchises to ply their routes if they have filed for franchise extensions prior to their permit’s expiration.

“How many more lives must be destroyed before we see justice and true transport reforms in this country? [We continue] to call for justice to hold reckless transport companies accountable for these tragedies and urge the government to strengthen policies and implementation to keep our roads safe,” Dakila said in a statement.

Leni Velasco, Dakila director general, said they were gathering support for a campaign to make bus companies with dubious road safety records answer for crashes. She did not identify these bus firms.  —MELVIN GASCON