Entire fleet of bus line in deadly SCTEX road crash suspended - Dizon

Metro Manila, Philippines - The entire fleet of the bus line whose unit figured in the deadly multi-vehicle collision on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway (SCTEX) was preventively suspended for 30 days, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said on Friday, May 2.

In an interview, Dizon said the suspension order against Pangasinan Solid North stays pending investigations.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) initially issued a preventive suspension order on 15 public utility buses under the Lingayen-Cubao route.

Dizon said he also directed the LTFRB to file a criminal complaint against the bus company and the driver.

“Apart from administrative sanctions na siguradong darating, magfa-file din tayo ng criminal charges against both the company and the driver,” he said.

[Translation: Apart from administrative sanctions that will surely come, we will also file criminal charges against both the company and the driver.]

Dizon said road accidents so far for the year have surpassed the total for 2024.

The transportation chief met with officials of over 20 bus companies at the Department of Transportation office in San Juan City on Friday after the tragic collision.

“So sinabihan ko sa lahat ng bus companies, including Pangasinan Solid North na kailangan magbago na rin…may mabigat na akibat na yun na responsibilidad na pangalagaan at protektahan ang ating mga kababayang bumabiyahe,” he said.

[Translation: So I told all the bus companies, including Pangasinan Solid North, that they also need to make changes…there’s a serious responsibility that comes with that to take care of and protect our traveling citizens.]

Dizon previously formed a task force composed of the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office to review road safety policies.

Citing police reports, LTFRB spokesperson Ariel Inton said over 30 others were injured in the crash.

The Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday, May 2, that its personnel was among the victims - a parent of the two-year-old child who was among the survivors.

The bus driver reportedly fell asleep, and the wayward vehicle caused the crash involving three sports utility vehicles and one container truck.

Dizon said bus drivers should drive for no more than six hours and must have alternative drivers on call.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB directed the passenger accident management and insurance agency to process and release insurance claims to victims.

“They should start identifying the dead bodies and indemnify the families, P400,000 for each deceased passenger,” LTFRB Chairperson Teodilo Guadiz said.

According to the company website, Pangasinan Solid North Transit, Inc. operates Solid North bus. The company was formed in 2010 as a subsidiary of JAC Liner, Inc. of the Chua family. It serves almost the entire Luzon after it acquired a number of companies through the years, including Dagupan Bus and JAM Liner.