LTFRB suspends operations of 26 bus units over Benguet road crash
photo: LTFRB
At least 26 passenger buses of a transport company was temporarily grounded following the road crash in Tuba, Benguet that left more than 90 people injured, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Monday, June 1.
The road crash involved two units owned by Victor Liner, Inc. and LTFRB chairman Vigor D Mendoza II said they are now investigating the incident to determine the extent of liability of the bus company.
But for now, he said the focus is to ensure that all the medical attention for the 95 injured victims are attended to, especially those who were confined in at least three hospitals in Benguet and La Union.
“I have already directed our LTFRB Regional Office to check on the condition of the injured passengers and to make sure that their medical needs are properly and immediately responded to,” said Mendoza.
“We are also coordinating with the bus company and the insurance provider to make sure that the insurance payment will be done in the soonest possible time. We should not let the passenger wait for assistance,” he added.
Based on the police’s initial investigation, a Victory Liner bus was heading to La Union and was tailing a sports utility vehicle when it suffered mechanical problems while negotiating an ascending part of the road on Saturday, May 30.
As a result, it hit another Victory Liner travelling at the opposite side of the road and the SUV before it hit a concrete barrier and later overturned.
More than 90 people were reported to have been injured, most of them from the bus that overturned as a result of the incident.
“We already secured a police report of the incident but we will be giving them the opportunity to explain. They were already issued with a show case order and we in the LTFRB expect full compliance,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza said the transport company was already asked to explain why its franchise should not be suspended or revoked over the incident.