Bus company vows to shoulder expenses of road mishap victims

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines   â€“ The management of the Cagayan Valley-based bus company involved in the recent road tragedy in Bontoc, Mt. Province has vowed to shoulder the financial expenses incurred by the victims’ families.

In a statement, Virgilio Florida Jr., president of GV Florida Transport Inc., also conveyed their sympathies to the families of the 14 passengers who were killed when their Sagada-bound bus fell into a 120-meter ravine in Barangay Talubin, Bontoc.

Among the fatalities in the Feb. 7 mishap, which also resulted in serious injuries to at least 31 other passengers, were comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez and Katrina Gozos, a graduating college student from Lipa City, Batangas.

The families of Jimenez and Gozos reportedly vowed to pursue criminal and civil actions against the firm amid the reported settlement being offered by the management.

“While we realize that no words or actions at this time can make up for the loss or suffering of loved ones, we are determined to extend all the support and assistance that would help to ease the burden on their families,” Florida said.

Senior Superintendent Oliver Enmodias, Mt. Province police director, said they were still awaiting legal actions that the families of those who died may initiate against GV Florida Transport.

Meanwhile, Rey Luis, the company’s contact person in Baguio City, told The STAR that as of yesterday, four of the injured passengers remained in a hospital in Baguio while another one was still recuperating at the Bontoc General Hospital.

“We are continuously monitoring their situation. We promised them our continued support for medicine and hospitalization expenses,” Luis said.   

Luis said the family of one of the fatalities from Mt. Province entered into a settlement with the company last Friday.

Contrary to earlier reports, the company, Florida said, has been and continues to be in touch with the victims’ families, assuring them of the company’s commitment to fulfill “its moral and financial responsibility.”

In fact, Florida said they had released and transmitted funds to cover transport and hospitalization of the injured passengers as well as burial expenses for most of the fatalities.

“Immediately after the accident and up to the present, the company has made personnel and facilities available to everyone involved and affected… Immediate support to the victims and their families was the foremost priority,” he said.

Florida said they also respect the 30-day suspension of operations imposed on the company a day after the mishap by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The board is now investigating the bus firm after its unit involved in the accident was found to be “colorum” or operating illegally. 

Florida said the company is also conducting its own inquiry into the incident “in line with our corporate credo and guidelines on the competence and efficiency of our crew and the safety of our passengers.”

The livelihood of GV Florida’s more than 500 employees, mostly drivers and conductors, have been affected after the LTFRB grounded the firm’s 288 buses, whose routes practically covered the entire Northern Luzon. – With Raymund Catindig