Kalunasan road mishap: Financial assistance to victims assured

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of Barangay Kalunasan assured that the barangay will give financial assistance to the casualties in the recent traffic incident involving a city-owned truck that the barangay has borrowed to collect garbage.

Barangay councilman Marvin Leyson said they are yet to discuss the amount to give the families of the victims, as they have to depend on the barangay’s available funds.

The truck’s driver, Gerardo Lasangue, claimed earlier that malfunction in the brakes caused the accident to ram into a repair shop last Thursday. The incident killed two and injured six others. The truck also damaged the shop.

Leyson said that even if the truck is maintained by the city, the barangay has to share the responsibility because Lasangue is an employee of the barangay. Lasangue, 56, was hired last October.

The barangay was forced to borrow the truck from the city because the one Lasangue used to drive is now beyond repair. Since Mayor Michael Rama had prohibited barangays from borrowing the city’s garbage trucks, Leyson said constant usage might have taken its toll on the barangay’s garbage truck.

Leyson said they will wait for the result of the investigation before taking action on Lasangue.

A drive test conducted by the Department of Public Services found no problem with the brakes, contrary to Lasangue’s claim.

Engineer Dionisio Gualiza, DPS head, said he had referred the matter to the City Traffic Operations and Management (CITOM) who shall determine Lasangue’s possible violations.

Two other garbage trucks lent to different barangays have been recalled per instruction of the mayor.

DPS will no longer lend vehicles to barangays but will take over the garbage collection if the barangay’s garbage truck is under repair.

Barangay officials hope that DPS will assist them until the new truck they purchased is delivered. Leyson said the brand new garbage truck might arrive this month.

Leyson also appealed to residents of the barangay to bear with the inconvenience because there will be most likely be delays in the collection of garbage. — (FREEMAN)