LTFRB suspending Ceres buses today

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 is set to suspend today the 11 buses owned by Ceres Liner, after one of its buses figured in an accident in Barangay Talaga, Argao town, the other day.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said that the 11 buses are within one franchise under case number 09-3511 (Cebu City-Santander via Oslob-Moalboal route).

“The 11 buses will be suspended for 30 days and will subject for an inspection,” Cuizon said.

As of October 2012, Ceres Liner has 253 buses plying different routes in Cebu Province. It has over 2,000 bus units operating nationwide.

Under the old LTFRB rules, an entire fleet will be suspended if an accident happens, but under the new rules which took effect on June 11, 2011, only buses within the franchise will be suspended.

Bus passenger, Maria Teresa Ceballos, a midwife of the Moalboal District Hospital, died and ten passengers were injured as a result of the bus accident.

Ceres Liner is one of the bus lines operated by the Yanson Group of Bus Companies, the largest land transport company in the Philippines.    According to their Facebook site, the group comprises Ceres Liner, established in 1968, Rural Transit of Mindanao Inc. established in 1985 and Bachelor Express Inc. also established in 1985.

It added that currently, the corporation presides over a transportation business with 7,500 direct and active employees, and 2,000 buses serving Negros, Panay, Cebu, Samar-Leyte, Mindanao, and Batangas City.

The bus with license plate numbers CEH-997 was bound for Cebu City when it fell on its right side while negotiating a curved road past 11 a.m. It was reportedly traveling at high speed and fishtailed until it hit a concrete riprap.

Ceballos was reportedly sitting at the window side and was thrown off from her seat upon impact.

Those injured were Darlyn Heredia, 19; Fritz Abella, 22; Carlito Sereño, 53; Ian Neil Ladera, 21; Arnold Alcatin, 39; Alma Medalle, 46; Joseph Biraque, 27; Lea Mae Pangilinan, 21; Zerna and his conductor, John Levi Cabanas, 23.

The driver of the Ceres bus involved in the accident Sunday morning is set to be released from police custody tomorrow afternoon once his prescribed period ends and no complainant appears to file criminal charges against him.

Charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries are being prepared against driver, Ernesto Zerna, 36, of Barangay Quiot, Cebu City.

Argao police chief, Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, said they are waiting for the family of Ceballos or those who were injured to come to their station.

“So far wala pa may nianhi nagpaabot mi naa na ang kaso,” Batobalonos said adding that they haven’t received also any statements of amicable settlement from the parties.

Meanwhile, the Capitol is set to negotiate with the management of Ceres Bus Lines to let the insurance shoulder first the expenses of the accident victims.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office chief, Evelyn Senajon, yesterday said that they will be meeting today with the management of the bus company.

“Unahon usa nato ang insurance nga motabang sa mga pamilya, later na mosunod na ang province,” Senajon said.

Immediately after the incident, Senajon said that the victims were admitted to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

She said that they have instructed VSMMC to charge to them the expenses of the patients while they are also following up other victims reportedly admitted in private hospitals.

A representative from the bus company said they will shoulder all expenses of victims admitted and confined at the Chong Hua Hospital.

“All medical expenses incurred is automatically shouldered by the management,” the representative added.

Senajon said that they are also coordinating with the Integrated Provincial Health Office on the assistance to be extended to the family of Ceballos. —Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Ria Mae Y. Booc and Gregg M. Rubio/BRP (FREEMAN)