By Brian Campued
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday ordered the suspension of the operations of the buses involved in a racing video on the Cagayan National Highway that went viral on June 8.
In a press conference, Dizon rejected the explanation and apology issued by GV Florida Transport, Inc. and directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to impose a 30-day preventive suspension of the company’s 15 bus units plying Sta. Ana, Cagayan–Sampaloc, Manila and Baguio–Apayao routes.
“Hindi porket walang nasaktan, walang nadisgrasya eh ganon ganon na lang. I saw the statement and apology of the Florida Bus Co. and I’m telling them now: ‘apology not accepted,'” Dizon said.
In a statement, LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III directed the company to surrender the “For Hire Plates” of the units involved in the racing video upon the receipt of the preventive suspension order.
The LTFRB also issued a show cause order to GV Florida Transport Inc. to justify why its franchise should not be suspended, cancelled, or revoked for “employing reckless drivers”.
The drivers involved are also ordered to undergo a road safety seminar and compulsory drug testing, the agency said.
Also, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended for 90 days the licenses of the bus drivers involved in the racing video.
The LTO, or an authorized vehicle inspection center, is also tasked to conduct roadworthiness inspection on Florida’s bus units.
“Sa mga driver ng bus na iyon, mahirap mawalan ng trabaho ngayon. Pero dahil sa kalokohan na ginawa ninyo, 90 days wala kayong trabaho at pag nahuli namin ang Florida Bus Co. na pinapamaneho pa ang mga drivers na iyon, pasensyahan tayo,” Dizon said.
Reiterating the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure safety of passengers and motorists, Dizon gave a stern warning to erring transport companies: “Kung inisip n’yo na hindi seryoso ang Pangulo at ang DOTr, malalaman n’yo ngayon na nagkakamali kayo. Mensahe din namin ito sa lahat ng PUV companies: kapag ginawa ninyo ito, mabigat ang magiging consequence ng ginawa ninyo.”
-jpv
