LTFRB suspends franchise of bus operator in Cebu accident

Transportation authorities have suspended for at least one month the franchise of the firm whose bus figured in an accident that killed 15 people and injured more than 40 others in Cebu over the weekend. A report on dzXL radio said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Central Visayas' order covered four buses of Corominas Bus. LTFRB Region 7 director Benjamin Go said the buses owned by Dulce Gantuangco will be subjected to roadworthiness tests. Go said these tests will be similar to those on the buses of JD Tours, whose bus figured in an accident that killed at least 21 people last month. For her part, Gantuangco assured the LTFRB through her lawyer Edmund Villanueva that she will comply with the LTFRB's order. She also promised to shoulder the expenses of the victims who were brought to at least four hospitals. On Saturday, at least 15 people were killed after a speeding passenger bus slammed into a fence in Cebu province. (See: 15 killed, 48 hurt as bus slams into fence in Cebu) Last month, at least 21 people were killed, 20 of them Iranians, after a tourist bus figured in a "brake-related" accident in Cebu. (See: Iranian Embassy to probe Cebu bus accident) Also last month, at least four people were killed when a truck went out of control in Cebu. (See: Road accident kills 4 in Cebu, 1 week after bus crash) Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus told dzRH radio that their initial findings showed the bus in Saturday's accident was overloaded, with 72 passengers on board a bus designed to accommodate only 50. LTO eyes revisions In the wake of a string of deadly road accidents in past weeks, the Land Transportation Office is eyeing revisions to its examinations for drivers' licenses. LTO chief Alberto Suansing said Monday the exams should focus on capturing the "human behavior" of examinees to measure their tendencies and not just their skills. "Aming binabalangkas paano higpitan ang pagbigay ng lisensya sa driver lalo ang professional drivers' license, yan ang nagmamaneho ng bus, taxi, jeep at truck (We are going to revise our examinations for licenses for professional drivers, particularly those handling public utility vehicles like taxis, jeeps, buses and trucks)," Suansing said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said the refocusing will factor in human behavior of the drivers. Suansing said that while many drivers can pass examinations for drivers' licenses, they may tend to show darker tendencies once already on the road. "Mahirap i-capture ang human behavior. Maaring pumasa yan ng exam pero paghawak ng manibela pakiramdam niya dun lalabas ang palagay niya e siya ang hari ng kalsada (It is hard to capture human behavior. Some people can pass examinations but once they are behind the wheel, they may feel they are the kings of the road)," he said. — RSJ, GMANews.TV