LTFRB: Some buses of Nova Auto Transport can still ply routes

Despite initial findings they may have violated the rules, some units of a bus firm may still ply their routes, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Thursday.

 

LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said this hours before a transportation summit to be attended by owners and high officials of bus firms.

 

"We'll give them the benefit of the doubt," Ginez said in an interview on dzBB radio, referring to Nova Auto Transport, whose garage in Caloocan City the LTFRB inspected Wednesday.

 

He cited initial findings by the team indicating the violations included engine and chassis numbers that did not match.

 

But an earlier dzBB report quoted the bus firm's representatives as saying the number on the chassis was a "production number."

 

Ginez said they will give the bus company the chance to explain the discrepancy.

 

The LTFRB conducted a random inspection of Nova Auto Transport barely a week after a bus fell into a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province and killed at least 14 people.

 

Ginez said he expects the owners and officials of bus firms to attend a transportation summit at 2 p.m. at the LTFRB office.

 

"Kung sino ang presidente ng kumpanya o single proprietor, siya ang inimbitahan in writing and follow-up (We invited the owners and high officials of bus firms to attend the meeting)," he said. — ELR, GMA News