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President Aquino orders swift probe into Benguet bus crash


(Updated 9:57 pm) President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has ordered the police and the Land Transportation Office to investigate the tragic bus crash in Benguet province that killed 42 people on Wednesday morning. At a Pasay City event on Thursday, Aquino told reporters that he wants the LTO and the Philippine National Police's Highway Patrol Group to speed up their investigation on the incident.
La Union-bound Eso-Nice bus from Baguio City plunged into a 100-foot deep ravine along Naguilian Road in Barangay Banangan in Sablan town, allegedly because the brakes failed. The fatalities included a woman who was six months pregnant. "Faulty mechanical brakes seems such a lame excuse to me. I want to study how thorough the inspection processes are for all of these transports, and also the driving skills," said the President, pointing out that Naguilian Road is very "steep." "In fact, I want to study the entire industry, find out what should be done to improve that particular situation," Aquino said. "With regards to the spate of accidents, we want (to address) the problem, to be able to come up with a solution. Naguilian (Baguio City) is not a very steep road and a professional driver who undertakes that would be a master of that particular route. How do you explain such an accident? Of course, we grieve for everybody who was lost and we want to find out how this can be minimized in the greatest extent possible," he added. The Department of Public Works and Highways began checking road conditions in Benguet after the fatal crash. Last Wednesday's accident was not the first time a vehicular tragedy occurred on that accident-prone section of the Naguilian Road that twists around mountainous parts of the province, which is known for its blind curves. In January 1999, 30 people were killed and 19 were injured when a bus figured in a deadly accident while negotiating the same curve where the Eso-Nice bus reportedly lost its brakes. At least three more vehicular accidents were recorded after the 1999 tragedy along Naguilian Road, the main artery connecting Baguio and nearby Benguet towns to the Ilocos coast. 30-day suspension The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is also expected to issue on Thursday a 30-day preventive suspension on the Eso-Nice bus company due to the road mishap.
A report on QTV’s Balitanghali quoted LTFRB executive director Emmanuel Mahipos as saying the 30-day suspension may be shortened or extended depending on the result of the investigation. The four remaining Eco-Nice buses will not be allowed to operate while an investigation is going on, Mahipos said. Authorities will verify whether there was negligence on the part of the bus company. Initial reports said faulty brakes caused the accident. Mahipos added in a separate television interview that the LTFRB will enforce stricter rules in giving franchises to provincial bus operators by taking into consideration their accident records. “Kapag may ganoong record, ilalagay natin sa ating database (If they have that kind of record, we will include that in our database) as part of our regulation. Doon makikita natin kung gaano karami na ang aksidente (That’s how we can determine the extent of accidents) and we will call the attention of these operators," Mahipos said in an interview aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras." The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), for its part, met with bus operators on Thursday to discuss safety guidelines for passengers following the bus accident in Benguet. “Gusto rin naming malaman kung ano ang ginagawa nila para ma-ensure na safe ang mga tao. (Kailangang) ayusin ang pagbibigay ng prangkisa at siguro, tingnan na rin ang previous record nila," DOTC Undersecretary for Road Transport Anneli Lontoc said in the same television report. (We also want to know what the operators are doing to ensure public safety. We should improve the issuance of franchises and maybe look into their previous records.)—LBG/VVP with Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV
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