2 bus firms penalized on polio survivor’s complaint: No seats for PWDs

Two bus companies were fined P50,000 each by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for failure to designate a seat for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The board upheld the complaint filed by Gina Cornejo, a polio survivor, against Green Star Express Inc. and LLI Bus Company Inc. The LTFRB also fined both bus companies P5,000 for their arrogant drivers and P5,000 for discriminating against passengers.

Cornejo earlier went to the agency to file separate complaints against the bus companies based on a video she took of a Green Star unit (UYE 457) and an LLI unit (UYE 563). She noted how the front rows of the buses, supposedly to be reserved for PWDs, senior citizens and pregnant women, were allowed to be occupied by burly men.

The complainant said she showed her PWD ID to the bus conductors but she was ignored.

The LTFRB also asked the Land Transportation Office to suspend for six months the license of Green Star driver Pedro Belardo Jr., while conductors Martin Catabay of Green Star and Daryll Espiritu of LLI were ordered to undergo a seminar at LTO.

The order against the two bus firms, docketed on June 27, was signed by then LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez, and board members Ariel Inton and Ronaldo Corpus.

On Friday, Ginez formally handed over the chairmanship to Martin Delgra, President Duterte’s appointee to the board.