Should we compromise greed over safety?

Please allow me to indulge on the tragedy that struck our family last week. My nephew Miguel D. Ramos, a medical intern at St. Luke’s Medical College survived the blazing fire that hit the Cabiao Community Center in Nueva Ecija last Tuesday. Unfortunately, his three female group mates did not make it. They were all burned to ashes leaving their families and friends perplexed and numbed in its aftermath.

Miguel and his fellow interns went to Nueva Ecija to do volunteer work for two weeks. On February 9, fire broke out at 2:45 in the morning. The community was fast asleep and one of the interns (who eventually died) was able to use her cell phone to call for help. It was only then when firemen began to arrive on the scene. The sad part of the story was that the fire truck did not have enough water supply and rescue equipment. My nephew, the only male intern who was already weak due to the fumes he had inhaled, struggled to exit through a small window with grills that had to be cut. Once out of danger, Miguel had to wait for the ambulance that came all the way from St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City where he is now confined in the ICU unit.

Such a harrowing experience for the families whose children are all diligent, industrious and devotedly dedicated to serving the country. The irony here is that – their very own country was not able to save them.

So, who do we blame now? Faulty wiring? What about the way the fire department responded to the call? Were they caught unaware or unprepared for this kind of an accident? What does the national government and local officials have to say now? Are we going to continue with our corrupt ways and compromise the safety of our people?

Meantime, Miguel is still fighting for his life. What has befallen this pure patriot who has worked so hard and has dedicated his life to God, service and country? A fledgling with all the strong ideals is now helpless – waiting for a miracle to happen.

There have been many similar incidents in the past which we should have already learned from but why are we still groping in the dark in this day and age? What has happened to all the disaster management, prevention and preparedness programs that our government has always bragged about?

Nowadays we have many students and youth volunteers going to provinces willing (or even required) to give a helping hand to the less fortunate but how do we protect them from all the bad elements around including disasters like this when the government is taking these issues and concerns in stride?

The provisions in the National Building Code of the Philippines particularly in the fire resistance requirements and standard for fire protection come to mind. Shouldn’t the city officials who scum such building permits be arrested for the crime they have committed? What about the Fire and Rescue teams? Have they really fulfilled the requirements, training and met the standards of their departments? What about those House Bills passed supposedly to protect the people? Isn’t it time for our officials to use their conscientious efforts to once and for all deliver quality service to the people? Our legislative branch has wasted so much time in inquiries that affect personalities instead of consuming their time in achieving better causes. So much braggadocio is happening wasting time, money and lives.

Irregularities and anomalies in government agencies adversely affecting public interest are denounced and investigated by congressional committees. But the continuing and on-going irregularities compromising the safety of millions of our daily commuters have not been seriously addressed.

Let’s take the issue on the franchising of public utility vehicles at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (or LTFRB) that has made our land transportation system all the more chaotic and unsafe. Just recently, a memorandum circular was signed by Chairman Alberto H. Suansing and board members Gerardo Pinili and Ellen Cabatu for the acceptance of “applications for appropriation of abandoned and / or expired Certificate of Public Convenience (or CPCs) in the regional offices” allegedly due to the pronounced need for 330 PUBs and 955 taxi services in several regions of the country.

Simply stated, the scheme would allow the revival of expired and unused franchises remaining dormant for years in LTFRB records, which in the first place should have been cancelled. By the way, among the expired franchises that the bus industry fears is the possible revival of the longtime expired CPCs of the now extinct Pantranco North Express and the BLTB bus companies. The Pantranco North Express franchise covers a vast territory in Northern and Central Luzon involving 783 buses on 128 routes. This franchise expired 17 years ago. The Office of the Ombudsman has in fact taken cognizance of the legal impediments for the revival of this long-expired franchise.

The revival of expired franchises translates into big money because they are easily peddled to new operators applying for new franchises. By buying revived CPCs, these buyers become instant operators with the LTFRB’s approval.

With just four months to go in their tenure, LTFRB top officials and their cohorts appear to be in a frenzy to issue as many franchises for the operation of public utility vehicles. How can they absorb all these vehicles without compromising public safety and adversely affecting the flow of traffic especially along EDSA?

As a matter of fact, didn’t Chairman Suansing admit to an oversupply of PUBs along EDSA just last year? He announced that the LTFRB will implement a “franchise attrition” to substantially reduce the number of buses plying this main thoroughfare. And yet, the agency has been accepting bus applications on provincial routes going to Cubao and Pasay via EDSA. In fact, my alitaptap tells me that these CPCs are being sold on a “wholesale basis”.

Based on the financial reports submitted to SEC, several of the applicant companies whose applications have been granted are not financially qualified. But the LTFRB has completely ignored these financial reports stating that since the favored franchise grantees are already existing operators, they are financially qualified and deserving of additional franchises. Has the LTFRB lost its mind? They are clearly favoring these financially unqualified public transport operators over public safety. In fact, when accidents happen victims cannot even claim for damages due to death or injuries.

Legitimate operators have complained to the DOTC of their problems at the LTFRB. Though DOTC officials have listened to the complaints of industry transport leaders, nothing concrete has been done to address the problems complained of.

If complaints against LTFRB officials have fallen over deaf ears at the DOTC, perhaps the Office of the Ombudsman that is empowered not only to investigate and prosecute erring public officials but also to curb and prevent irregularities in government offices to promote public interest can step into the picture.