Solid North bus operations suspended after SCTEX crash

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has ordered a 30-day suspension of 15 Dagupan Bus Co. units following a fatal road crash at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll plaza involving a Solid North bus.

Dagupan Bus Co. was acquired by JAC Liner Inc., which created Solid North Transit Inc. as a subsidiary.

The suspension order applies to buses operating under Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) 75-3266, which services the Lingayen-Cubao route.

Affected units are those bearing the license plates UVK-971, UVK-951, UVK-961, UVK-941, UVM-941, UVM-364, UVM-324, UVT-530, UVT-569, UVT-540, AAI-1901, DXN-476, ABE-2905, ABE-2906 and LZYTBTD69D1068034.

In response to the incident, LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III directed the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) to promptly process insurance claims for the victims.

Deceased passengers are entitled to P400,000 each, while non-passenger victims may receive up to P200,000.

The crash, which occurred near the Tarlac exit toll plaza, involved a Solid North bus that failed to stop, colliding with four other vehicles.

In a statement, the LTFRB imposed several conditions on the Dagupan Bus Co. during the suspension period. These include mandatory road safety seminars for all drivers, drug testing for drivers and conductors and thorough roadworthiness inspections for all affected units.

The operator is also required to submit video documentation of these actions and provide proof of the completed insurance disbursements.

Additionally, the LTFRB ordered the surrender of the license plates of the suspended units. The Land Transportation Office, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group were tasked with impounding any suspended units found operating during the suspension.

Guadiz also announced new regulatory reforms, including mandatory road safety seminars every three years for all bus drivers, psychological evaluation and basic life support training for conductors.

Charges

Criminal charges have been filed against Teodoro Merjan, the driver of the speeding passenger bus that caused the deadly multi-vehicle collision at the SCTEX toll plaza in Tarlac City on Thursday, resulting in 10 deaths and at least 37 injuries.

Lt. Col. Rommel Santos, chief of the Tarlac City police, said that complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries, damage to property, multiple frustrated murder and additional charges were filed on Friday against the suspect before the Tarlac City Prosecutor’s Office.

In an interview on dzBB on Thursday, Santos initially said there were 12 fatalities. However, it turned out there were only 10 people who died based on the latest update he received from investigators.

Eight of the deceased were passengers in a Nissan Urvan, including four minors. The victims were from Antipolo City, Rizal and were on their way to a youth camp in Pangasinan organized by their religious group.

The two other fatalities were a couple in an SUV headed to Baguio City with their two-year-old child. The child survived the crash with only minor injuries, according to Marvin Guiang, head of the Tarlac Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

“It’s a miracle that the child survived,” Guiang said. “The child has now been taken in by his aunts and uncles.”

During police questioning, the driver admitted he had fallen asleep while behind the wheel. It was also confirmed that the bus was speeding, causing severe impact damage to the vehicles involved, particularly the Urvan.

Tarlac Public Information Officer Arvin Cabalu, meanwhile, confirmed in a text message that all medical expenses incurred at the provincial hospital were covered.

Calls for reform

Bayan Muna on Thursday extended its condolences to the families of the 10 people who died and the 30 others injured in the multi-vehicle collision.

Former Bayan Muna representative Ferdinand Gaite expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and urged a full investigation into the incident, especially the operations and working conditions at Solid North Transit, which is part of the JAC Liner group.

Gaite pointed to recent bus shortages in northern routes, which allegedly forced drivers to work long hours without adequate rest. — Ric Sapnu, Emmanuel Tupas, Jose Rodel Clapano