Panda Coach Tours extends assistance to kin of victims of Tanay bus mishap

The bus firm which was involved in the tragic accident in Tanay, Rizal began extending financial assistance on Thursday to the kin of the 15 people who died and 30 others who were injured.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board set up a help desk for SCCI Management and Insurance Agency in its main office to cater to the families of the victims.

SCCI, the insurance provider for Panda Coach Tours, stated that a P200,000 financial assistance will be extended to the families of the 15 people who died in the accident. A P20,000 medical reimbursement will be released to the injured.

Although only an initial amount of P50,000 was given to the families of victims, SCCI clarified that within five days upon the submission of the claim requirements, another P150,000 will be given to them.

Families of the victims in Tanay bus accident arrive in LTFRB to claim financial assistance. pic.twitter.com/Cu9gvt5wmP

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) February 23, 2017

"We really can't put a value to life. However we go by the law and the law under the LTFRB is that the maximum cover for the insurance that they availed for death is P200,000 for death and P20,000 for medical reimbursements. 'Yun lang po. In excess of that, it's an agreement already between them and the operator," Bong Tandoc, SCCI vice president for finance, said.

"Actually nagbigay na kami ng pangunang bayad kahapon kay Panda Coach na i-re-release actually dapat ngayon ni Panda Coach doon sa 15 fatalities... They (families of victims) have to submit initial documentation, and after five days we are obligated to pay," Tandoc added.

Meanwhile, Bernie Panagsagan, legal counsel of Panda Coach Tours, said it is not true that the bus was not well-maintained.

"Unlike 'yung regular PUV buses, araw-araw tumatakbo 'yan, ang tourist buses usually bihira makabiyahe yan. So we discount 'yung sinasabi nila na hindi well maintained o kakarag-karag 'yung bus. Ang LTO (Land Transportation Office) they will not register the unit if it did not pass the motor vehicle safety inspection test," Panagsagan said. 

He also said it is not true that some students were seating on the aisle of the bus at the time of the accident.

"Ang bus ay 60-seater. Ang alam ko all 59 bus passengers nakaupo. Walang nakaupo sa gitna. Hindi totoo 'yang news na 'yan. Hindi 'yan gagawin ng Panda Tours...We also received a report na kahit sinabihan na mag-seatbelt, unfortunately some students hindi nag-seatbelt," Panagsagan said.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada requested Atty. Lourdes Pagayatan, legal counsel of Bestlink College of the Philippines, to send an official to be at their help desk. This is to coordinate the financial assistance being given to the families. Thirteen students from Bestlink were among the fatalities. The other two were the bus driver and a staffmember of the school.

"It appears na merong gap. You know the things that you are doing pero hindi alam ng pamilya 'yung ginagawa ninyo. So we reiterated 'yung request namin na maglagay na kayo ng tao dito sa help desk," Lizada said. 

"Communicate and be open to them para maintindihan nila 'yung ginagawa ninyo at marinig niyo 'yung concerns nila," she added.

Investigation showed the bus was en route to a medical and survival training for the students' National Service Training Program subject on Monday when the bus lost its brakes while traversing a curved highway. —KG, GMA News