Still no rules and guidelines

The ongoing investigation into the deadly bus crash in Tanay where so far fifteen have been killed has revealed several things. With the absence of skid marks on the road, it seems the bus had no brakes. Witnesses have also claimed that they saw the bus swerving wildly from side to side, hitting concrete barriers before finally hitting an electrical post and an embankment. Investigators are also speculating that the driver intentionally hit the electrical post, in order to prevent the bus from falling into a ravine. If that is the case, the driver may well have saved lives.

Is this another case of a poorly maintained vehicle, allowed by the company to be used in the absence of preventive maintenance, or another bad driver? The road taken by the ill-fated bus has many turns, and runs downhill. A reckless driver can indeed lose control of a vehicle if travelling fast enough. But it does not explain the absence of skid marks on the road. Reflex would have taken over with stepping hard on the brakes. If the driver did step on the brakes, there is no evidence on the road.

There are now statements from students who were brought to the campsite in Tanay a day earlier, claiming the very same bus already had problems. The smell of burning rubber and heat from the floor of the bus were also experienced by the students. They did call the attention of the driver who simply ignored them. It has not yet been ascertained if it was the same driver of the Monday trip to the campsite.

With so many bus accidents that have happened in the past, I would think authorities would already have rules and guidelines regarding buses and other public utility vehicles or vehicles for hire. Obviously there are none, or not enforced.  I thought the LTO or LTFRB would issue certificates of roadworthiness to vehicles. The same goes for drivers. They should have certificates indicating they are professionally trained to drive buses. But being in the Philippines, where everything and anything can be produced or "accommodated", there may be no way to enforce anything. It has to take yet another deadly accident, of which we have had many in the past years, for authorities and lawmakers to start talking. The absence of corporate responsibility further deepens the problem. Companies tend to put maintenance and safety aside for profit.

Both the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education have temporarily suspended schools from conducting field trips. The students of Bestlink Colleges have complained that the said camping trip to Tanay was a requirement, and that they could get a failing grade if they did not attend. A waiver was apparently required for students who would attend the camping. If the activity was required, then a waiver is not needed, since the school should guarantee the safety of its students. If students would be taken out of the school, all the more they should assume responsibility. Field trips should also be beneficial to the education of the students, and not just another name for a junket. The CHED and DepEd should set guidelines for field trips, should they decide to lift the suspension. To have another accident where students are killed or injured while on official school business is simply unacceptable.