MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday meted a 30-day suspension on the bus units of Victory Liner Inc. after an accident in La Union that killed three people.
LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III ordered the operation suspension of the 26 bus units from Cubao going to Baguio City via Dau, Tarlac, and Urdaneta.
The suspension will be effective once the Victory Liner receives the order.
The LTFRB also ordered the company to require the Victory Bus Liner’s drivers to attend a road safety seminar conducted by the Land Transportation Office.
The Board is also asking for the roadworthiness certificate of suspended bus units and the schedule of the regular preventive maintenance service of the buses.
Aside from the penalties, the company must also show proof of payments from its passenger insurance company proving that the victims have duly received the insurance benefits from the vehicular accident.
The Victory Liner passenger bus traveling from Baguio City to Quezon City crashed after it skidded on a highway in Pugo town in La Union province last January 3, killing the bus conductor and two others, according to authorities. Aside from the three declared deaths, the incident injured at least 20 passengers.
Initial investigation showed that one of the wheels of the bus blew up, which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle before crashing into a tree beside the highway.
“While the incident may look like it was unintentional, it could have been still avoided had the bus involved underwent a thorough roadworthiness inspection,” Guadiz said in a statement.
“This should be a lesson learned for all public utility vehicles,” he added.
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