Press Release
February 10, 2014

Transcript of Privilege Speech of the Deputy Minority Leader
Senator Vicente C. Sotto III

Thank you Mr. President for keeping me on schedule, this is, shall I say in our language "biglaan" because the recent event struck a chord in my conscience and I believe I need to call the attention of those concerns.

Last November 14, 2013 an NGB passenger bus and Elena bus line make an accident in EDSA Magallanes in Makati wherein 6 died and 33 injured. Ang dahilan daw nawalan ng break.

December 2, 2013, NLEX Bulacan, a Philippine Rabbit passenger bus and a dump truck killed one and 26 injured. December 11, 2013, Concepcion Uno Marikina City, 4 died and 14 injured (collusion) passenger jeep and a truck. December 16, 2013, this is close to the heart of the majority leader, Bicutan, Taguig City Skyway, Don Mariano passenger bus and a close van at least 21 died and 20 injured. Now, February 7, 2014, in a mountain province a Florida Bus fell into ravine, 14 dead and 32 injured, again the reason given nawalan ng preno.

The Florida Bus accident Mr. President came two month after a horrific fall in the Skyway in Metro Manila by Don Mariano that also held fraudulent identification. Its under chassis is belonging to another vehicle, and then after this Skyway crash the LTFRB vows to impose stricter control over passenger buses, as I mention 14 dead and 32 hurt.

The Florida Bus with plate number TXT 872 fell off a ravine at around 7:20 am on Friday in Bontoc town near the boundary of Ifugao and Mountain province. Police investigation who spoke to some witnesses said the bus has engine problem but the possibility of human error can't be discounted. The legal team of the LTFRB serves the suspension order at the Florida Transport in Sampaloc Manila terminal at 9:20am Saturday and at the Cubao terminal at 10:30am. The suspension order covers all the 238 units of Florida Transport Inc., However, LTFRB noted that 10 of these units were registered under the name of Mountain Province Cable Tours owned by Norberto Cue Sr. It pointed out that no application for approval of sale and transfer has been filed by Cue in favor of the Florida Transport. The ill-fated bus was among those ten units questionable record Mr. President. It has a Florida body marking but its plate number was assigned to Mountain Province Cable Tours. Moreover, the chassis and engine of the Florida Bus was tampered and not registered at the LTO. Paano nagagamit 'yun? Therefore, the bus was not authorize to operate as a for hire vehicle. It is said that the most number of buses ever suspended by the Board due to multiple violation committed by the two bus companies. "This is the most... What was the bus company committed is blatant multiple violation that we can't just tolerate because it puts people's life in danger" (quote from) LTFRB Chairman Atty. Winston Gines. He added there are enough merits to immediately recall the whole fleet of GB Florida and Mountain Cable Tours) and temporary suspend their operations until we verify the permits of their respective units.

So, Mr. President both companies were given 72 hours from the receipt of this order, to submit a show cause, explaining why their certificate of public conveyance should not be suspended or cancel or revoke and a hearing is set on February 19 by the LTFRB. As we speak today Mr. President an inspection is ongoing by the LTO and LTFRB.

Magandang pakinggan pati sa media, magandang sound bites eh, pero Mr. President patay na ang kabayo, karamihan sa bus natin na naaksidente ganun ang sitwasyon, so I ask, sino ba? First of all sino ba incharge of giving certificate of road worthiness? if you are in public transport service vehicle or transport vehicle you must have a certification of worthiness. Sino po ang nagi-issue nyan? Tinanong po naming before a bus company is given franchise or whatever license to operate. Ito raw po requirement ng LTFRB according to Mrs. Cruz, Sr. transportation development officer:

Requirement for the issuance of the extension of the Franchise: 1 )valid franchise (not yet expired) lahat po ng na-accident expired, 2) application form, 3) valid government issued ID, 4) OR - CR, 5) financial capacity, 6) copy of business name, 7) business permit, 8) photo of garage location, 9) photo of the unite plate, 10) proof of publication. The LTFRB only inspect new unit (paano ang luma).

Now, as far as LTO is concern and this is comes office of motor vehicle inspection: Registration requirement... first three years of the motor vehicle and every year thereafter (imposible hong 3-years old lang itong mga naaksidente).

So I call the attention of our body that we task the committee incharge to look into this matter and lets find out, ano bay un lang bang operator lang ang may kasalan dito? Yun bang driver lang, hindi ho bay un nagbibigay ng ceritificate of road worthiness ang dapat sisihin dito, they should come up a better way of inspecting these vehicles and submitted to us. So, as I said Mr. President, I submit all these record to the proper committee and I just couldn't help but the attention of the Senate on this matter.

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