No applicants yet for Sagada bus route

MANILA, Philippines - There are still no bus companies applying for the Quezon City-Sagada route left unserved following the cancellation of the franchise of the bus firm involved the Bontoc, Mt. Province road mishap last February, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Although the LTFRB currently has a moratorium on new franchises, it earlier said it would study the matter if and when there are applications for the route of the cancelled franchise that Mt. Province Cable Tours sold to GV Florida Transport.

The cancelled franchise covers 10 buses. 

Fifteen people were killed and 32 others, including the driver, were injured when a GV Florida bus plunged into a ravine in Bontoc town.

The ill-fated bus was a unit that the Dagupan Bus Co. Inc. sold to GV Florida, but used a franchise originally held by Mt. Province Cable Tours.

In its recent ruling, the LTFRB ruled that there have been violations of the Public Service Code, thus it cancelled the franchise covering 10 buses. 

The board also suspended for six months, starting March 11, the 28 other franchises of GV Florida for its unauthorized purchase of the franchise of Mt. Province Cable Tours and unauthorized use of the bus registered to Dagupan Bus Co.