A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded at the SCTEX toll plaza, where four children eagerly heading to a religious youth camp and a young couple cherishing moments with their toddler were caught in a deadly crash. Remarkably, the two-year-old boy survived inside the wrecked vehicle, a rare glimmer of hope amid crushing loss.
This calamity claimed the lives of 10 individuals, a stark reminder of the deadly consequences when road safety warnings go unheeded. Every day in the Philippines, about 32 lives are claimed by road accidents, according to United Nations data—a grim reality that refuses to change.
While 33 injured bus passengers are eligible for P100,000 insurance each and up to P400,000 in case of death, the victims outside public utility vehicles, like the SCTEX crash casualties, face a harsh insurance policy. Pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles do not enjoy the same protection. Under current regulations, they share a maximum indemnity of P200,000—divided among all affected individuals.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman confirmed this disparity, ordering the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) to expedite insurance claim processing. Yet, the law’s distinction leaves families of the 10 SCTEX victims with far less than what bus passengers would receive for similar tragedies.
Transport advocates, like Boy Vargas of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), are furious. Vargas points to the painful precedent set by the Katipunan Flyover accident last December. There, four people died, and 25 others were injured, yet all victims shared a paltry P200,000 insurance payout, an injustice they refuse to accept.
Vargas implores President Marcos to intervene, urging the Insurance Commission to overhaul the insurance framework. “This is about fairness for millions of road users,” he insists, highlighting the need for swift and just action.
He also praises the proactive stance of Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, hoping the issue receives the urgent attention it deserves. “We in the transport sector welcome Secretary Dizon’s quick actions on transport issues and trust his leadership to address this long-standing concern,” Vargas said.
Faster insurance claim releases are also on the advocacy agenda. Weeks-long delays, like those seen after the Katipunan accident, only add to the victims’ anguish.
Both the Katipunan Flyover tragedy and the recent SCTEX disaster send a clear message: the national government must act decisively to protect the rights and safety of all road users. The fight for fair insurance and better road safety policies continues, fueled by the painful lessons of loss and survival.