In a swift move following a deadly crash, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has slapped a 30-day preventive suspension on 15 public utility buses. The order came after a tragic multiple-vehicle collision at the Tarlac City Toll Plaza in SCTEX that claimed at least 10 lives and left over 37 injured.
The fatal accident involved a unit of Dagupan Bus, operated by Solid North, raising serious safety concerns. The LTFRB’s suspension, effective immediately, aims to halt the operation of these buses while investigations proceed.
But the sanctions don’t stop there. The bus operator must send all drivers of the suspended units to a mandatory road safety seminar and ensure they undergo drug testing. Every bus must pass a roadworthiness inspection—complete with video proof—and surrender physical plates to the LTFRB Legal Division.
Authorities won’t tolerate any attempts to keep suspended buses running. Units still operating will face apprehension and impoundment by the Land Transportation Office, the MMDA, and the Highway Patrol Group.
The LTFRB has also ordered the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) to expedite insurance claims for the victims. Each family of the deceased will receive Php 400,000, the maximum coverage allowed for passengers. Meanwhile, non-passengers affected—pedestrians and other vehicle occupants—are entitled to indemnities up to Php 200,000.
“I instructed PAMI to fast-track identification and compensation for the victims,” said LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III. The board also demands proof of insurance payouts as part of the operator’s compliance.
This decisive regulatory action sends a clear message: passenger safety and accountability remain top priorities as investigations continue into one of SCTEX’s deadliest road crashes in recent memory.