LTFRB-7 penalizes colorum van operator after mishap
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 yesterday penalized the operator of a colorum van that collided with a minibus in Catmon resulting in 31 people injured last Saturday.
LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said the operator of the van was slapped with P200,000 fine.
The unit will also be impounded for three months. Cuizon said the operator will have to shoulder the hospital bills of the passengers injured during the accident because it does not have an insurance coverage.
Cuizon said he also issued a show cause order directing the minibus operator to answer why no disciplinary action should be imposed because of the accident.
According to Cuizon, all 15 passengers of the minibus will get P5,000 financial assistance from the insurance company. They are also entitled an insurance of up to P20,000 depending on the medical expenses.
"This is one of the greatest dangers of colorum vehicles; their passengers are not covered by any insurance. This particular case is an example, although fortunately, nobody died in the accident. Otherwise, the victims will suffer severe financial dislocation and anguish," Cuizon said.
Cuizon reiterated his warning to all colorum operators to stop the illegal activities because the LTFRB-7 has been conducting series of operations. In fact, a total of 34 colorum vehicles had been apprehended since February 2018.
He explained that while most of the apprehensions were made in Cebu, there were also eight apprehended in Bohol, mostly vans for hire.
1 KILLED, 8 INJURED
On Sunday, an 8-year-old boy died while his mother and sister were injured in another road accident. The victims were on board a multicab that fell from a cliff in Barangay Valencia, Carcar City.
The fatality was identified as Jhon Loyd Himaya. Those injured were Gloria Himaya, 48, and Jamayca Himaya, 13, all residents of Bulacao, Cebu City.
Police Officer 2 Celso Yanong of Carcar City Police Station said the victims were hitch riders of Reliber Allera, 48. Initial investigation revealed that the multicab driver offered the victims a ride to Poblacion, Carcar City after he passed by them walking.
“Naagian ni niya ang mga biktima niya nalooy kay naglakaw maong iyang gipasakay,” Yanong said.
Allera claimed to have lost control of the vehicle while negotiating an uphill portion of the road.
“Tangason man ni nga dapit niya mura'g nabugatan ang driver sa luyo, wala nakontrol maong niatras pabalik ang sakyanan ug nahulog,” Yanong added.
In Sibonga, six people were also injured yesterday morning after a tricycle collided with a car along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion.
Police Chief Inspector Stephen Amamag-id said that a Suzuki Celerio driven by Marianita Guanzon, 53, resident of Talamban, Cebu City, lost control and swerved to the opposite direction hitting the tricycle driven by Paulino Patalingjug, 55.
Patalinjug's passengers — Sheila Abrera, 36; Marlon Horoa, 33; Rechyl Rebliza, 40; Florencio Amahan, 61; and Rinalyn Fernandez, 26-- were rushed to the nearest hospital.
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office-7, Philippine National PoliceHighway Patrol Group, and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas are planning to establish a OneStop-Shop to address colorum vehicles in the region.
LTO-7 Director Victor Caindec admitted that he is having a problem with colorum tourist buses in Cebu because apprehending them might affect the tourism industry. He said that this has to be addressed without prejudice to the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.
"Of course daghan na pud mi og nadakpan but not by LTO7 organic personnel themselves because LTO-7 have already deputized the enforcement aspect. Our organic personnel were working on in addressing the backlog of car plates, car registrations, among others," said Caindec.—Mitchelle