LTFRB to summon driver, operator of bus caught speeding on EDSA Busway

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will summon the driver and operator of a public utility bus (PUB) caught in a viral video speeding on the EDSA Busway, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday.

"The DOTr strongly condemns the driver of the Joanna Jesh Transport bus for gross violation of road transport rules, as captured in a video by a concerned netizen," the department said in a statement.

According to the DOTr, the video made rounds online and has reached Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade who directed the LTFRB, as well as the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to conduct an investigation on the incident.

"The show cause order against the driver and operator (of a Joanna Jesh Transport bus) will be issued by the LTFRB today. En banc hearing set on July 28, 9 a.m.," DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said.

Libiran added the two agencies have committed to "act on the matter with dispatch, institute the necessary proceedings, and will not hesitate to impose the appropriate sanctions as warranted."

In the 30-second video re-uploaded by the DOTr on its Facebook page, the bus unit with license plates CAP-5133 was seen speeding recklessly on the EDSA Busway, hitting several lane separator barriers as it passed by.

"Para sa mga bus driver, ang EDSA Busway ay ginawa upang tulungan kayo at ang mga pasahero ninyo. Hindi ito ginawa para abusuhin ninyo (For the bus drivers, the EDSA Busway is designed to assist you and your passengers. It was not made for you to abuse)," Libiran said.

"Kahit anong ganda ng proyekto, kung kaskasero at walang disiplina ang gumagamit nito, balewala (No matter how good the project is, if the drivers using it are undisciplined, it is still worthless)," she added.

Following this incident, the DOTr warned that it will "never tolerate irresponsible and reckless manner of driving by authorized PUBs which poses a danger to life and possible damage to property."