ILOILO City – Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI) wants the preventive suspension of its 12 Ceres buses operating between Iloilo and Caticlan-Aklan via San Jose and Pandan, Antique, and vice versa, lifted.
VTI is the operator of the Ceres bus that plunged into a ravine in Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic, Antique on Dec. 5, which resulted in the deaths of 19 people, including the driver.
Atty. Salvador Altura, legal counsel and spokesperson for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6, said that during the submission of VTI’s explanation to the show cause order issued on Dec. 11, they included a motion for lifting the 90-day suspension of the 12 units under franchise Case No. 11-VI-021-AK.
VTI’s rationale for requesting the suspension lift revolves around the economic losses suffered by the company, the public service aspect, and the public demand from Antiqueños, especially those facing difficulties commuting on the said route.
“Prolonged suspension can hamper public service,” said Altura.
LTFRB-6 plans to conduct a hearing before the end of December or possibly in January 2024 to tackle VTI’s motion.
According to the preventive suspension order signed by LTFRB-6 regional director Richard Osmeña, the suspension can only be lifted if the respondent-operator complies with the following requirements:
* inspection and determination of road worthiness of all authorized units by the Motor Vehicle Inspection Service (MVIS) of the Land Transportation Office and authorized representatives of the Board
* road safety seminar for the operator’s drivers and conductors conducted or scheduled by the Board or its authorized seminar provider
* compulsory drug testing of the operator’s drivers and conductors by an authorized/accredited agency of the Department of Health and the Land Transportation Office
* submission of the Certificate of Registration and latest LTO Official Receipt of the units
* submission of video clippings of roadworthiness inspection and road safety seminar
* presentation of closed circuit television footage and dash cam of the unit involved in the accident
Altura noted that out of the six requirements, VTI has already presented five to LTFRB-6, with only one left – the CCTV footage and dash cam of the unit involved in the accident.
VTI claims that the dash cam was damaged in the accident.
Regarding the LTFRB-6’s order to show cause in writing within 72 hours why their Certificate of Public Convenience should not be suspended, cancelled, and/or revoked, Altura said VTI responded on Dec. 11, too.
“The gist of their argument or answer is that the accident happened due to some mechanical trouble and gross error in judgment on the part of the driver,” said Altura.
Consequently, all documents submitted by VTI will be reviewed by LTFRB-6, especially the affidavits of witnesses presented by the management, to decide whether to accept VTI’s explanation.
“We will be thoroughly evaluating the situation,” said Altura./PN
