Families of accident victims receive cash assistance from Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Government yesterday distributed cash assistance to the families of the victims in the recent Toledo City bus accident.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia handed personally the cash assistance to the families of the 15 fatalities and to the 40 survivors during a simple program at the Capitol Social Hall.

Each of the family of the 15 passengers who died during the accident received P6,000 financial assistance, rice and bags of grocery items from the province.

The provincial government decided to extend financial assistance to the victims upon the recommendation of the provincial social welfare officer.

During the turn over of the financial assistance yesterday, Garcia told the families of the victims that the provincial government is now more concerned of the safety of the riding public especially to its constituents from the different component cities and municipalities.

A V&JA passenger bus earlier crashed into a concrete fence of a house in Barangay Don Andres Soriano in Toledo City killing 15 passengers and more than 40 others were seriously injured.

In another accident in Toledo City last month, four fiesta revelers died on the spot while eight others were injured when a prime mover towing two container vans lost its brakes and rammed into the victims.

The incident happened in Barangay Poog, Toledo City few weeks before the V&JA bus accident occurred.

These incidents happened days after a worst bus accident in Barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban killing 21 people mostly Iranian Nationals.

The series of road accidents prompted Garcia to meet with the officials of the Land Transportation Office-7, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the police to discuss what road safety measures to adopt to prevent future accidents.

Among the measures they have agreed is to require public utility drivers to undergo a road safety refresher course. The Capitol has provided the venue and a free lunch for the participants. — THE FREEMAN