LTFRB orders retraining of drivers of two bus companies

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered yesterday the retraining of 96 drivers of two bus companies that were involved in recent accidents along EDSA that included the mishap that killed a doctor and wounded four others.

LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion said 64 drivers from the Joanna Jesh Bus Lines and 32 drivers from Commuters Bus were required to undergo a three-day training on road safety and traffic regulation while the franchise of the two bus firms have been suspended for 30 days.

“Retraining of the drivers is part of the administrative process we are imposing on the bus companies,” Lantion said.

He said the operators of the bus lines were summoned to appear at the LTFRB and explain why their franchises to operate in Metro Manila should not be cancelled.

The LTFRB has suspended the Alabang to Navotas and the Alabang to Fairview route of the two bus companies after the accident involving the Joanna Jesh bus that caused the death of Dr. Francisco Sarabia and the wounding of four other victims.

Lantion said similar sanctions would be imposed on bus firms that would be involve in major accidents along main highways nationwide.

Investigators said a Joanna Jesh bus and a Commuters Bus were racing along EDSA when they hit the Mercedes Benz car driven by Sarabia.

The impact has sent the car crashing into the road island then exploded and burst into flames killing Sarabia.

Lantion said the cease and desist orders cover at least 30 buses of Joanna Jesh and 20 units of Commuter Bus that were banned from operating in Metro Manila.

Sarabia died when a speeding Joanna Jesh bus driven by Martinito Madrid hit the victim’s Mercedes Benz from behind. The car burst into flames trapping the doctor inside the car.

Madrid had undergone inquest proceedings for the charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries, and damage to properties as a result of the accident last Tuesday. Bail has been set at P30,000 for his temporary release. Madrid’s bus also rammed another Joanna Jesh bus.

Superintendent Norberto Babagay, chief of the Traffic Enforcement Unit of Quezon City said that one way to regulate divers of public utility vehicles is a stricter, round-the-clock enforcement of traffic rules by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority along EDSA.

He said the government should be stricter in granting professional driver’s licenses, which should include a neuropsychological examination for applicants.

Babagay proposed the creation of a data bank in the Land Transportation Office to determine the bus companies and drivers that have been involved in various traffic accidents.