LTFRB suspends bus firm in NLEX crash
Metro Manila, Philippines - The transport regulator has ordered the preventive suspension of the bus company involved in a crash on Monday, April 14, on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said he authorized the suspension order from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reportedly for Draven Bus Company early Tuesday morning.
The LTFRB addressed the two-page order to Wilson Hong Sy, listing six license plate numbers under his name preventively suspended for 30 days.
“Based on [the] initial report, the PUB (public utility bus) was involved in [a] three-vehicle road crash with a [closed] van and a truck along the North Luzon Expressway,” the LTFRB wrote in its order.
“Said report disclosed that the bus abruptly swerved from lane 4 to lane 3 and hit the closed van. Due to impact, the bus returned to lane 4 and hit the rear portion of the truck,” it added.
The LTFRB told Sy to submit videos that the buses undergo a roadworthiness inspection, the assigned drivers and conductors having a road safety seminar and drug testing, as well as proof of payments to show that the insurance benefits arising from the road crash were received by the victims.
The respondent must also surrender the “For Hire Plates” of the bus units. Authorities will also apprehend and impound the units if found operating as public utility vehicles.
Meanwhile, Dizon also told reporters that the shipping line recently flagged by the Philippine Coast Guard for overloading in a Batangas-Romblon trip has been issued with a show cause order from the Maritime Industry Authority.
“Hindi tayo nagbibiro pag sinasabi nating magpapadala ng show cause orders, magpapasuspinde,” the secretary said. “We want them to take us seriously. Ang sinabi ng pangulo, hindi ikokompromiso ang safety ng ating kababayan.”
[Translation: We are not joking when we say we will issue show cause orders and suspension orders. We want them to take us seriously. The president said the safety of Filipinos must not be compromised.]
