Bam urges regular inspection of PUVs to prevent accidents

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV has expressed his concern over the spate of accidents involving public utility buses (PUVs), which he said can be prevented through regular inspections of the concerned government agencies.

Aquino said the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) must be more proactive and not just impose all those sanctions only after the accidents take place.

“These accidents are alarming, considering that many of our fellow Filipinos are trooping to the provinces for the last few weeks of summer vacation,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship.

He cited last Wednesday’s incident in Tiaong, Quezon where three people were killed and 13 others were injured when a Raymond bus en route to Quezon City was rammed by a 10-wheeler truck.

There was also the incident in Burgos, Ilocos Norte where three passengers were killed and 14 injured when a bus hit a tree, and two more incidents in Olongapo City and Aurora where several passengers were injured.

In all those instances, the LTFRB suspended the franchises of the concerned bus operators.

Aquino said authorities should do more than just suspending the franchises.

“Suspension of franchise to operate is not enough. Prevention is better than cure and one way of doing it is through regular safety inspection of buses plying the provincial routes,” he said.

He said the operators themselves should be more responsible considering that in their line of business, the safety of their passengers should always be ensured.

“Under the franchise given to them, operators have the responsibility to ensure safe travel for commuters. It is practical for them to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before they leave,” he said.

“Government agencies and private operators have to work side by side to ensure safe travels for many Filipinos who rely on mass transportation,” he added.