In a tragic turn of events on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), ten lives—including four innocent children—were lost after a bus driver dozed off behind the wheel, triggering a deadly multi-vehicle collision. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is now gearing up to take decisive action.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon made it clear: Beyond administrative penalties, criminal charges will be filed against both the bus driver and Pangasinan Solid North Transit Incorporated, the company responsible for the ill-fated vehicle. This move signals a tough stance against negligence on the road.
The repercussions didn’t stop there. The entire fleet of Pangasinan Solid North Transit has been slapped with a 30-day suspension. “Hindi lang yung rutang papuntang Pangasinan kung saan nangyari yung aksidente. Thirty days suspension,” Dizon stressed, underscoring that this applies to all their vehicles, regardless of route.
This latest tragedy adds to a worrying trend. In just the first four months of 2025, road accidents have already surpassed last year’s total death and injury tolls recorded by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The DOTr has been sounding the alarm since Holy Week, urging drivers to stay vigilant and forming a special task force to curb public vehicle accidents.
In an urgent meeting with bus company owners, Secretary Dizon delivered a stern warning: “Kailangan kapag may aksidente, kapag may pagkakamali, kailangan may parusa.” Accountability will be enforced, and those responsible will face the consequences.
As the country mourns this heartbreaking loss, the message is clear—road safety is non-negotiable, and the wheels of justice are already turning.