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Bus accidents prompt PNoy to summon agencies responsible for road safety
By KIMBERLY JANE TAN, GMA News
(Updated 3:11 p.m.) Malacañang announced Monday that President Benigno Aquino III will be summoning the agencies responsible for road safety following the recent bus accidents in the country.
During a press conference, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Aquino will be calling for a meeting of relevant agencies concerned with road safety.
"Road safety is a concern... the President is concerned," he said.
But asked when the meeting will be, he said it has yet to be set.
Lacierda said the President mentioned the meeting after a bus of G.V. Florida fell into a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province last Friday, killing at least 14. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has imposed a 30-day preventive suspension on the firm.
"He’s very concerned with respect to the situation with respect to the buses, how things are happening despite the rules that we have in place, so he’s calling for a meeting of the relevant government agencies," he said.
But the Palace official was quick to defend LTFRB chair Winston Ginez, saying he has been "taking a proactive stance with respect to road safety."
"I think this is the first time where you saw the entire franchise of a bus transportation cancelled," he said.
Asked what else the government can do aside from cancelling the bus franchise, he said aggrieved parties can take "legal and judicial actions."
"Insofar as the government is concerned, you hit them where it hurts most to them insofar as profitability is concerned. We take out their franchise, they are not able to operate, and that’s the very severe penalty on the bus franchises," he said.
He likewise said that can ensure that the firms comply with government standards before they can operate.
"Remember that franchise is a privilege and it is not a right under our public transportation laws. And therefore, by canceling their franchise, it’s an effective way of telling them to shape up and for other bus companies to shape up," he said.
As for stiffer penalties, Lacierda said this will be up to the members of Congress. —KG/KBK, GMA News
Lacierda said the President mentioned the meeting after a bus of G.V. Florida fell into a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province last Friday, killing at least 14. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has imposed a 30-day preventive suspension on the firm.
"He’s very concerned with respect to the situation with respect to the buses, how things are happening despite the rules that we have in place, so he’s calling for a meeting of the relevant government agencies," he said.
But the Palace official was quick to defend LTFRB chair Winston Ginez, saying he has been "taking a proactive stance with respect to road safety."
"I think this is the first time where you saw the entire franchise of a bus transportation cancelled," he said.
Asked what else the government can do aside from cancelling the bus franchise, he said aggrieved parties can take "legal and judicial actions."
"Insofar as the government is concerned, you hit them where it hurts most to them insofar as profitability is concerned. We take out their franchise, they are not able to operate, and that’s the very severe penalty on the bus franchises," he said.
He likewise said that can ensure that the firms comply with government standards before they can operate.
"Remember that franchise is a privilege and it is not a right under our public transportation laws. And therefore, by canceling their franchise, it’s an effective way of telling them to shape up and for other bus companies to shape up," he said.
As for stiffer penalties, Lacierda said this will be up to the members of Congress. —KG/KBK, GMA News
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