LTFRB sanctions tourist bus firm over EDSA fire

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has canceled the provisional authority of LS8 Tourist Transportation Corp. to operate 17 bus units, the LTFRB said yesterday.

LS8 owns the tourist bus that caught fire at the Ortigas Flyover on EDSA last weekend, causing heavy traffic and the suspension of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 operations.

“The provisional authority is a privilege given to the operators, and it comes with the obligation to make sure that all their units are in the best condition in the interest of public comfort and safety,” LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said. “In this case, it appears that there were some lapses committed, especially in the regular maintenance of the vehicle.”

Mendoza said the incident should serve as a lesson to all operators to ensure the roadworthiness of their buses.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB has summoned Cemtrans Services to explain why its certificate of public convenience and participation in the net service-contracting program should not be suspended over the bus firm’s failure to provide fare discounts.

The show-cause order was issued after a passenger posted on social media an incident wherein the driver/conductor did not give a fare discount – 40 percent for senior citizens, students and persons with disabilities and 20 percent for all other passengers.

“The President’s order to provide fare discounts under the net service-contracting program is strict,” Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said. “We are all affected by the increase in the prices of petroleum products, so the appropriate discount should be given to our commuters.”