LTO to make road worthiness tests more rigid following Antique bus crash

Antique bus crash site (Photo courtesy of Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)

MANILA, Philippines — Following a bus accident in Antique that claimed the lives of 17 persons, Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday said it will intensify its road worthiness inspection of vehicles nationwide.

According to LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II, the agency will also strictly enforce the ‘No Registration, No Travel’ policy that started in November.

“If it also requires that the road worthiness inspection of public utility vehicles, especially passenger buses, is done on a weekly basis, so be it,” said Mendoza in a statement.

“What is important is to ensure the safety of passengers and other road users, especially this Christmas season,” he added.

Mendoza said he instructed the regional director of LTO-Western Visayas to conduct an investigation on the bus crash.

He also said LTO will provide assistance to the families of persons who died and those who survived the tragedy.

The LTO chief is referring to the accident in Antique on Tuesday afternoon, December 5, involving Ceres bus that was carrying 53 passengers.

The vehicle fell into a ravine in Hamtic town.