LTFRB grounds 55 buses after mishap

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) barred 55 Dela Rosa Transit city buses from leaving the firm’s garage following a roadworthiness check yesterday morning.

The agency’s public utility vehicle inspection teams looked over all of the firm’s 84 city buses in its garage in Biñan, Laguna following an accident in which one of the firm’s buses ended up crushing a car along EDSA in Quezon City on Feb. 5, according to LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez.

The inspectors found out that 55 buses violated franchise rules: 21 have no front passenger seatbelts; 12 carried expired advertisements; nine had no fare guides,;seven have no fire extinguishers; three have broken tail or signal lights; while one had a damaged windshield, another did not have a sign telling commuters where to file complaints and the last did not have a “no smoking” sign.

The LTFRB also issued a 30-day preventive suspension on the franchise of the bus that figured in the accident . The franchise covers four other buses.

The agency has yet to determine the fine it will impose on the bus firm.

Edgardo Lelis Jr., the driver involved in the accident, has been released from police custody after Marcelino Umalin did not file charges against him.

Umalin, who was trapped in his car when the bus ended up on top of his vehicle, remains confined in a hospital.