BACOLOD City – The city government has suspended the borrowing of all city government-owned vehicles to ensure the safety of Bacolodnons.
This comes after the June 14 road crash involving a city-owned bus in Barangay Igmaya-an, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental that killed a public school teacher and injured more than 30 others.
“I’m holding in abeyance or suspending all borrowing of city vehicles. It is to ensure safety, that these vehicles will not put them in danger although I’m still waiting for the investigation on the accident that happened in Don Salvador Benedicto,” said Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez during the program for the city’s 86th Charter Day celebration at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Tuesday, June 18.
The city mayor said he is still waiting for the result of the investigation following an initial report he received that the accident was caused by brake fade, brought by overheating due to friction on the brake pads.
“Hulaton ko lang ang official investigation kalab-ot sa akon, but nevertheless i-suspend ko anay ang nagahulam sa aton sang vehicles,” Mayor Benitez added.
Also on the same day, the city mayor instructed the General Services Office (GSO) to ensure that all city government vehicles are properly maintained.
“Nag-instruct ako sa GSO nga tanan nga mga salakyan sang syudad lantawon liwat ang maintenance, ila nga running condition is in order kag gusto ta gid siguraduhon nga tanan naton nga salakyan indi problematic or wala kita may makita nga problema,” he said.
At around 5:40 p.m. on June 14, the bus carrying passengers including 35 teachers and staff members of the Paglaum Village Elementary School in this city and their immediate family members fell on its side when its brakes malfunctioned.
They were on their way back to Bacolod from a team building in Sipaway Island, San Carlos City.
Earlier, Mayor Benitez said the city government provided hospital assistance to all the injured passengers, most of whom were discharged from various hospitals./PN
