Bus service suspension poses inconvenience

A friend forwarded me a news item about the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) 30-day preventive suspension of Victory Liner’s Cubao-Baguio route over an accident that happened on Jan. 3. Included in this suspension are the following requirements imposed on Victory Liner: show proof of financial assistance and payment to victims of the accident; its drivers were required to undergo a road safety seminar; present a roadworthiness certificate for its 26 units; and submit a schedule of maintenance service for its buses.

I live in Baguio and commute to Manila a few times a year. I know there are other bus companies plying the same route, but for various reasons I prefer to take Victory Liner, and can personally feel the inconvenience such suspension has caused to passengers. If the intention was to penalize Victory Liner, then it should be fined and sanctioned with other penalties, but its service should be allowed to continue. Suspension also affects its displaced employees.

Of more importance and concern, however, is the action taken by LTFRB and other public transport authorities AFTER an accident had occurred. I recalled almost similar actions being taken against Eso Nice, a bus company plying the Baguio-San Fernando route, after an accident on Aug. 18, 2010. My concern is, why are preventive actions like the schedule of vehicle maintenance, safety seminar for drivers, drug tests, etc. imposed after a major accident? Shouldn’t such preventive measures be standard operating procedures for all public transport? I hope transport authorities would be more proactive.

Peter Chong