LTFRB suspends units of bus firms in Batangas and Zamboanga accidents

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has ordered the grounding of some units of the fleets of three bus companies involved in two fatal road accidents in Batangas in southern Luzon and in Zamboanga del Sur in Mindanao.

Separate preventive suspension orders (PSOs) were issued for the grounding 10 buses of JAM Liner Inc. and one unit of the Del Monte Motor Works Inc. (DLTB), according to a statement issued by the LTFRB on Thursday.

The collision involving a JAM Liner bus (DXV-571) and DLTB (UYC-564) that happened at 1 p.m. on May 4, at the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR tollway) in Brgy Poblacion, Malvar, Batangas, resulted in the death of one passenger and injured 46 others.

Likewise, LTFRB suspended the operations of 15 buses of Rural Transit of Mindanao Inc. after one of its units (KWA-252) figured in a road incident on April 27 at about 1:45 p.m. on a National Highway at Purok 1, Brgy. Anonang in Aurora.

Six passengers were reported killed while 16 others were injured in the accident.

In the statement, LTFRB chairman Atty. Winston Ginez said the suspension against JAM Liner, DLTB and Rural Transit of Mindanao Inc. wil be in place for 30 days.

“We have been reminding bus operators and their drivers to refrain from driving recklessly to prevent fatal road accidents; the Board will never tolerate reckless driving behavior," Ginez said.

Within 30 days, the three bus companies must bring all their units to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Service (MVIS) of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for inspection and determination of their road worthiness before they are again allowed to operate.

The drivers of the units will likewise undergo Road Safety Seminar conducted by the Board or authorized training centers.

The bus companies are given 72 hours to show cause in writing from the receipt of the order why their Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) should not be suspended, canceled and/or revoked for violation of the terms and conditions of its franchise.

Representatives of the bus companies must also appear at the hearing of the case on May 21 at the Board’s office. — LBG, GMA News