National Transportation Safety Board

A few weeks ago, 19 farmers were killed and several others injured in Apayao when the truck they were riding plunged backwards down a deep ravine. They were on their way home after collecting government-subsidized seeds.

The police theorized that either the engine or brakes failed as the truck made its way up an incline. The truck had some 40 people on board, as well as sacks of rice seeds.

“The truck fell on its rear first and the passengers were crushed,” a local police official told Agence France Presse. At least 20 other passengers sustained injuries, but were expected to survive, including the truck driver.

Most of us probably didn’t give that report a second look. There must be at least one such deadly road accident a day in this country. In this case, I understand people hitched a ride on a dump truck, not even a public bus.

Then again, they could have been on a dilapidated bus typical in our hinterlands with the same deadly result. What can we expect from inadequately maintained buses and poorly-trained drivers?

LTFRB, the agency responsible for assuring safety would merely suspend the bus company until such time as folks forget there was even an accident.

Not too long ago, a group of Filipino doctors from the United States here on a medical mission were killed in a bus accident in Cebu.

The LTFRB and the LTO, agencies attached to DOTr, investigate bus accidents. Both agencies regulate the bus industry. LTFRB issues the franchises and the LTO licenses the drivers and assures the roadworthiness of the buses.

Of course, both agencies are not likely to report failure of regulation as a primary or contributory reason for bus accidents. An independent NTSB can point out inadequate vetting of drivers in the issuance of licenses or failure to ascertain road worthiness of buses.

The other month, a private plane carrying a patient for treatment in Manila crashed in Laguna. It must have been investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority, the same agency that may have been remiss in properly regulating private aircrafts.

Some years ago, DILG Sec Jesse Robredo, husband of the current Vice President, died when a private plane he was riding crashed off the island of Masbate. If an ordinary person was the victim, it would have been easy for CAAP to wash its hands clean of any responsibility.

But negligence on the part of CAAP couldn’t be denied. After he read the investigation report, then president Benigno Aquino III said: “The pieces of evidence pointed to one thing: If some people did their job, if the rules of the industry were followed, if those involved were only faithful to their obligations, the tragedy could have been avoided.”

I have been advocating for the creation of a totally independent NTSB similar to what they have in the United States. Indeed, constituting a highly professional NTSB to look at accidents in all transport modes would enable us to learn from our mistakes.

Even that fire that happened on the LRT2 train line should have been investigated by an independent agency, not the DOTr or worse, the LRTA. Luckily no one died or was injured in that fire, but it is clear there was negligence on the part of LRTA in properly maintaining the line.

When we had this highly publicized controversy about supposedly design or software flaws on the Mitsubishi Montero SUV, it was the DTI that had to get experts to weigh in. This should have been something engineers and transport experts in an independent transport safety board should have handled.

When Congress opened a few months ago, I mentioned to Sen Grace Poe the need to fast track the approval of the bill creating the NTSB. She agreed with me it should be a priority.

Indeed, the senator has a pending bill to create the NTSB. This will be the sole agency responsible for investigating and determining the probable cause of transportation-related accidents on land, sea and air, including railway and pipeline systems.

Under Senate Bill No. 162, the agency’s mandate also includes conducting safety inspections on land, sea and air transportation and assessing existing practices and policies related to the transportation sector.

I don’t understand why the last Congress, and apparently the present one, can’t seem to see the importance of transportation safety. Failure to learn from past accidents dooms us into just having the same accidents happening over and over again.

The LTFRB could require the LTO to conduct special licensing tests for bus drivers intending to drive our narrow and steep mountain roads. Surprise inspections of buses and other vehicles used for public transport should be the norm.

The LTFRB could study the data gathered from thousands of transport accidents in the country year after year. This study could be the basis of new or revised rules to better safeguard the lives of our people.

I guess transportation safety isn’t sexy enough for lawmakers to discuss. Indeed, we are quite a daredevil kind of people who don’t care much about safety. That is obvious not just in transportation, but in other activities too like construction. Most of us don’t care about safety until an accident injures us or a member of our family.

The World Health Organization’s World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention made a good point: human suffering for victims and the families of road traffic-related injuries are “incalculable” and bring about “endless repercussions,” causing families to break up and bring high counseling costs for the bereaved relatives.

It is time we took control of our chaotic transport system and assure the safety of all Filipinos. An independent National Transportation Safety Board can do that.

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco