QC-Sagada route now vacant as LTFRB cancels bus franchise

MANILA, Philippines - With the cancellation of a franchise bought by GV Florida Transport Inc. from Mt. Province Cable Tours covering the unit involved in the fatal Bontoc bus crash, the route it had been taking from Quezon City to Sagada is now vacant.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB} said it would study if there are new franchise applications for the route.          

The Quezon City-Sagada route is expected vacated as the cancelled franchise cover 10 buses.

The accident on Feb. 7 left 15 persons dead and 32 others injured including the driver.

After announcing the cancellation last Friday, LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said they would study the possibility of granting franchise to other applicants.

A moratorium on the issuance of franchises is currently in effect.

The vehicle involved in the accident was a unit of Dagupan Bus Inc. bought by GV Florida. It used a franchise of Mt. Province Cable Tours sold to GV Florida.

The board has ruled that this violated the Public Service Code, prompting it to cancel the franchise covering 10 buses.

The other 28 franchises originally held by GV Florida were also suspended for six months, starting March 11 for the unauthorized purchase of the franchise of Mt. Province Cable Tours and use of the bus unit registered to Dagupan Bus Inc.

These 28 franchises of GV Florida cover 188 units.