LTFRB: Killer Florida bus operating illegally

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday said that the passenger bus involved in the fatal accident in Bontoc, Mountain Province last week was operating illegally.

The LTFRB said according to its Information Systems Management Division, the bus unit with plate number TXT-872 belongs to the Mt. Province Cable Tour and no application for approval of sale and transfer has been filed by Norberto Que S., MTCT, in favor of the G.V. Florida Transport Inc.

A further check also showed that the chassis and engine of the G.V Florida bus were tampered with and not registered with the Land Transportation Office.

The bus was not authorized to operate as a for-hire vehicle, the LTFRB added.

“What the bus company committed [are] blatant multiple violations that we cannot just tolerate because it puts people’s life in danger," LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.

"There are enough merits to immediately recall the whole fleet of G.V Florida and Mt. Province Cable Tours and temporary suspend their operations until we verify the permits of their respective units,” Ginez said.

Earlier, LTFRB issued a preventive suspension order to halt the operations of a total of 238 buses of the G.V. Florida Transport Inc. and Mt, Province Cable Tours -- due to multiple violations committed by the two bus companies, including the fatal road accident in Bontoc.

A total of 17 people died, including comedian and artist Arvin "Tado" Jimenez, and 31 others were hurt when the Florida bus unit fell off a ravine in Barangay Talubin, Bontoc town at past 7 a.m. on February 7.

The LTFRB personnel have started confiscating all the yellow for hire plates of the buses since Saturday and will continue until all the plates of the 238 units are confiscated, Ginez said.

G.V Florida has 228 units under its franchise while the Mt. Province Cable Tours has 10 units.

The two companies are given 72 hours from the receipt of the Order to submit a "show cause" explaining why their Certificates of Public Convenience should not be suspended or cancelled.

They are also ordered to appear before the Board on February 19 for a public hearing.

Failure of the two companies to appear on the scheduled date will be considered as a waiver on their part and the Board will decide on the merits of the case based on their franchise records.

"Patuloy naming lilinisin ang ating lansangan ng mga pampasaherong sasakyan na walang tamang permiso para pumasada upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga mananakay natin," Ginez said.