Transcript of The Senate Committee On Public Services Hearing, March 14, 2017

Republic of the Philippines
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

SENATE
Pasay City
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES

JOINT WITH THE
COMMITTEES ON CIVIL SERVICE, GOVERNMENT
REORGANIZATION AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION;
PUBLIC WORKS; EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE;
AND FINANCE
Date : Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Time : 10:00 am.
Venue : Session Hall

Senate of the Philippines
Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard
Pasay City
Agenda : PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SEN. VICENTE C. SOTTO III

RE: ROAD ACCIDENTS DELIVERED ON FEBRUARY
21, 2017
RESOLUTION ON ROAD AND TRAFFIC SAFETY

RULES AND REGULATIONS:
PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 190 -

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SENATE COMMITTEE
ON PUBLIC SERVICES AND OTHER APPROPRIATE
SENATE COMMITTEE(S) TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY,
IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON ROAD AND TRAFFIC
SAFETY RULES AND REGULATIONS GIVEN THE
ALARMING NUMBER OF VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS IN
THE COUNTRY, WITH THE END IN VIEW OF
ENACTING MEASURES TO PROVIDE FOR STRICTER
REGULATIONS ON ROAD SAFETY IN THE
PHILIPPINES, FOR INFORMATION DRIVES BY THE
LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE, IN
COORDINATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNITS, AND FOR THE INCLUSION OF ROAD
COURTESY AND DISCIPLINE IN THE PHILIPPINE
1
Committee on Public Services Joint with the Committees on Civil Service, Government
Reorganization and Professional Regulation; Public Works; Education, Arts and Culture;
and Finance
March 14, 2017 (Tuesday)
Page 2
BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (by Senator

Pimentel)
BUS ACCIDENT THAT CLAIMED LIVES OF 15

STUDENTS FROM BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE
PHILIPPINES:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC SERVICES, AS PART OF ITS OVERSIGHT
FUNCTION, TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY ON THE
REPORTED BUS ACCIDENT THAT TRAGICALLY
CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 15 PASSENGERS, MOSTLY
STUDENTS, FROM BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE
PHILIPPINES, AND TO REVIEW EXISTING LAWS
AND POLICIES WITH REGARD TO ENSURING THE
ROADWORTHINESS OF PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES
AND THE COMPETENCE OF DRIVERS OF SUCH
VEHICLES (by Senator Poe)
BILL ON NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY

BOARD ACT OF 2016:
SENATE BILL NO. 162 - AN ACT TO PROMOTE

COST-EFFECTIVE MEASURES FOR THE TRANSPORT
SECTOR AND COMMUTING PUBLIC, PROVIDING
FOR THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD, PRESCRIBING
ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR (by Senator
Poe)
BILLS ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS OF TAXI

PASSENGERS:
SENATE BILL NO. 340 - AN ACT ORDAINING THE

BILL OF RIGHTS OF TAXI PASSENGERS (by Senator
Poe)
SENATE BILL NO. 375 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING

THE BILL OF RIGHTS OF TAXI PASSENGERS (by
Senator Gatchalian)
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and Finance
Page 3
BILL ON MARITIME PASSENGER SAFETY ACT:
SENATE BILL NO. 656 - AN ACT MANDATING

SHIPOWNERS, SHIP CREW, AND CONCERNED
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOR AND
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS AT SEA,
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (by Senator
Aquino)
BILLS ON AIR PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS ACT:
SENATE BILL NO. 863 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A

BILL OF RIGHTS FOR AIR PASSENGERS,
PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES (by Senator Recto)
SENATE BILL NO. 896 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING

THE RIGHTS OF AIRLINE PASSENGERS BY
PROVIDING STANDARDS FOR AIRLINE CARRIER
SERVICES (by Senator Ejercito)
SENATE BILL NO. 1059 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR

THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF AIRLINE
PASSENGERS (by Senator Pacquiao)
BILL ON ROAD SAFETY AND COMPREHENSIVE

DRIVER'S EDUCATION ACT OF 2016:
SENATE BILL NO. 1231 - AN ACT INTEGRATING

BASIC ROAD SAFETY AND COMPREHENSIVE
DRIVERS EDUCATION IN THE CURRICULUM OF
THE ENHANCED BASIC EDUCATION (K TO 12)
PROGRAM (by Senator Poe)
INEFFICIENT VEHICLE INSPECTION AND

REGISTRATION PROCESSES:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE
SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY,
IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE OCCURENCE OF
ROAD ACCIDENTS EMANATING FROM INEFFICIENT
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and Finance
Page 4
VEHICLE INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION

PROCESSES, WITH THE END VIEW OF
ESTABLISHING STRICTER INSPECTION
PROCEDURES AND ENFORCING PENALTIES TO
ERRING LICENSING OFFICIALS OF THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) AND LAND
TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND
REGULATORY BOARD (LTFRB) (by Sen. De Lima)
_____________________________________________
ATTENDANCE
SENATORS:
HON. GRACE POE - Chairperson, Committee on

Public Services
HON. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO - Member
HON. JUAN MIGUEL MIGZ F. ZUBIRI - Member
HON. VICENTE C. SOTTO III - Ex Officio Member
GUESTS/RESOURCE PERSONS:
Hon. Anneli Lontoc - Undersecretary for Roads and

Infrastructure, Department of
Transportation (DOTr)
Hon. Roberto Lim - Undersecretary, DOTr
Mr. Edgar C. Galvante - Assistant Secretary, Land
Transportation Office (LTO)
Atty. Martin Delgra III - Chairman, Land Transportation and
Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
Dr. Nena Asingjo - Chief, Office of Student Development,
Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
P/CSupt. Ma. O Ranada Aplasca - Regional Director, CALABARZON,
Philippine National Police (PNP)
SPO1 Sonnie Dones - Chief Investigator, PNP-CALABARZON
Ms. Elvira Medina - President, National Center for Commuter
Safety and Protection
Engr. Albert H. Suansing - Executive Director, Philippine Global
Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP)
Mr. Eros Zuniga - National President, Safety Organization
of the Philippines, Inc. (SOPI)
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and Finance
Page 5
Atty. Sophia San Luis - Imagine Law

Dr. Maria M. Vicente - President, Bestlink College of the
Philippines
Mr. Diosdado Lleno - VP for Admin, Bestlink College of the

Philippines
Atty. Peter Aguilar - Executive Director, Phil. Inter-Island
Shipping Association (PISA)
Atty. Bernie Pangsagan - Legal Counsel, Panda Coach Tours and
Transport Inc.
Mr. Jaime C. Tan - General Manager, Haranah Tours
Corporations
Mr. Danilo Literal - Father of the victim of Bestlink tour
accident
Ms. Jenelyn M. Salatan - Mother of the victim of Bestlink tour
accident
Ms. Nenita Ragua - Mother of the victim of Bestlink tour
accident
Atty. Rolando Sibal - Counsel for the families of the victims
Engr. Daniel Reyes - Director II, Maritime Safety Service
Ms. Cherrylyn Rodolfo - Export Development Council
SENATE SECRETARIAT:
Atty. Antonette B. Cordero - Committee Secretary

Ms. Rosemarie J. Ortiz - Committee Stenographer
Ms. Jeanne M. Baisa - Committee Stenographer
Ms. Helen S. Gayapa - Committee Stenographer
Ms. Anna Leah C. Catimbang - Committee Stenographer
Ms. Cindell B. Gealan - Committee Stenographer
Ms. Bathaluman H. Gonzales - Committee Stenographer -
Ms. Maribel P. Mendoza - Committee Stenographer
Ms. Jennifer F. De Silva - Committee Support Staff
(For complete list, please see attached Attendance Sheet.)
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COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES JOINT WITH THE
REORGANIZATION AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION; PUBLIC
WORKS; EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE; AND FINANCE
RJOrtiz I-1 March 14, 2017 10:08 a.m. 1
AT 10:08 A.M., HON. GRACE POE,

CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC
SERVICES, CALLED THE HEARING TO ORDER.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Magandang umaga po.
The joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services
together with the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; and
Finance is hereby called to order.
In todays discussions, we will tackle bills and resolutions that
address road safety; air, land and sea passenger rights; and a privilege
speech on road accidents. Transportation safety is an important issue
that has long languished as a secondary priority. Various mishaps on
lands such as those involving buses and those at sea, particularly in
the case of ferries, have given rise to public outcry over their handling
of investigations.
Currently, the PNP Highway Patrol Group and the MMDA are the
two agencies that compile data on vehicular accidents.
I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Majority Floor
Leader, Senator Tito Sotto.
Good morning, sir.
In 2014, the MMDA reported that there were 90,258 vehicular
accidents resulting in 418 deaths. In 2015, they reported 95,615 traffic
accidents; 5,357 more than in 2014. Of this number, 519 persons
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died; 17,103 were injured; and 77,993 of these cases were damage to
property. However, these two bodies are limited with regard to area,
capacity and investigating powers. What about areas outside of Metro
Manila? Who takes note of that? Also, the lack of central autonomous
body to investigate accident has meant more often than not that
regulatory bodies would conduct their own investigations. These
agencies have acted as judge, jury and executioner leading to rumors
of institutional whitewashes and cover-ups.
For instance, the existing Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) which regulates air transport safety came under fire
during the investigation of the accident involving a department
secretary who died during a plane crash. Thus, there is a need to avoid
conflict of interest, situations wherein an agency is both the regulator
and the investigating body on accidents under their purview. The lack
of an independent body to address transport safety incidents has
resulted in a lack of public confidence both here and abroad.
Recently, news of a field trip gone bad resulting in the death of
15 people drew public attention on schools requiring field trips for
students. I believe that excursions provide a means for students to
learn outside the four walls of their classrooms. True enough, we
should investigate the necessity of such field trips for the purpose of
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crafting laws that will act as guidelines for learning institutions.
However, we should not take the easy route and simply deter schools
from allowing its students to engage in practical learning. Thus, we
need to ask the right questions and create a legislative measure that
will prevent road accidents whether during the course of a field trip or
not from happening.
But it is not only the need to create an investigating body that
we call for this hearing today. Matagal pa ang Halloween pero hindi
tayo natatantanan ng horror stories tungkol sa delayed flights,
stranded and bumped-off passengers and exaggerated transportation
costs. We also hear horror stories about taxi passengers who were held
up, not at gun point but by crafty taxi drivers who would demand more
than the metered fare just because a passenger is in dire need of a
ride. This summer we expect even more stories as many bakasyunistas
would be travelling via land, air and sea transportation. We may be a
Third World country as they say but we may and should demand for
First World services. Airlines may offer cheap flights but we do not
want the passengers to suffer from cheap services. Taxi drivers may
have the personal choice of smoking but should be required to keep
their vehicles clean and smoke free at all times. Traveling inter-island
may require only small boats but we expect them not to be
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overbooked and to provide quality life jackets and other equipment to
ensure passenger safety. The saying, You get what you pay for,
does not and should not apply to basic services that common carriers
are required to provide especially safety.
Having said this, we shall now commence our public hearing.
And I would like to acknowledge the presence of, again, Senator
Tito Sotto, and our resource persons: Usec Anne Lontoc from the
DOTr; Engineer Daniel Reyes, Director, Maritime Safety Service;
Engineer Emilio Llavor, MMDAat least mas maraming engineers yata
ngayon kaysa abogado; Director Medmier Malig and Assistant Director
Jonathan Araullo of the Bureau of Quality and Standards; Police Chief
Superintendent Ma. O Ranada Aplasca; Engineer Albert Suansing; Ms.
Cherrylyn Rodolfo; Mr. Eros Zuiga; Atty. Sophia San Luis; Dr.
Francisco Villanueva Jr; Atty. Lourdes Pagayatan; Atty. Peter Aguilar of
the Philippine Inter-Island Shipping Association; Mr. Jaime Tan,
Haranah Tours Corporation; Atty. Cesar Brillantes, firm consultant of
Haranah Tours; Atty. Rolando Sibal, counsel; Mr. Danilo Literal, father
of Mark Daniel Literal, a survivorsalamat po, sir, kami po ay nakikiisa
sa inyo; Ms. Nenita Ragua, mother of Irriz, maam; Ms. Jenelyn
Salatan; also present, Atty. Martin Delgra of the LTFRB.
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So let us now begin with our discussions. But I would like to give
the floor to our Majority Leader for some manifestations.
SEN. SOTTO. Perhaps after we listen to some of the resource
persons, Madam Chair, I have some questions for the LTO, the LTFRB
and the DOTr, in particular, Madam Chair.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Siguro tatanungin ko iyong
ating mga kasama ngayon lalung-lalo na sa mga ahensiya ng
gobyerno. Mayroon ba kayong mga presentasyon ukol sa pagbibigay
ninyo ng permits, halimbawa, sa mga commercial vehicles o ano pa
man.
Maybe, Usec Lontoc, you can begin or LTFRB?
Kasi nga iyong nagiging issue dito, iyong nakikita natin, ay iyong
pagiging maayos ng mga sasakyan na ginagamit ng ating mga
kababayan. Ang issue na lumabas dito nga sa huling trahedya ay
naka-rehistro ang bus na ito na mayroongparang 2004 yata ang
manufactured date pero ang totoo noun ay ilang dekada na ang edad
nitong sasakyan na ito. Sino ba ang namamahala sa pagbibigay ng
mga permit dito at sa pag-usisa sa tunay na edad ng mga sasakyan?
MS. LONTOC. Good morning, Madam Chairman.
Good morning to the members of this Committee.
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As regards the giving of permit, the LTO is in charge of the
registration of vehicles and the licensing of drivers while LTFRB is the
one giving the franchise. And in each of this giving of permit and
franchise, they have processes that they follow. The LTFRB is following
the requirements of the Public Service Act and the LTO is following the
Land Transport and Traffic Code of the Philippines.
So, Madam, if you want the details on how a certainon how
commercial vehicles are registered and given franchise, may I refer
you /rjo
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Jmbaisa II-1 March 14, 2017 10:18 a.m. 1
MS. LONTOC. ... may I refer you to the two gentlemen who know
about this?
Thank you, maam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Yes. Thank you, Usec
Lontoc.
I would like to acknowledge the presence of Usec Roberto Lim of
the DOTrsir, good morningand, of course, Ms. Elvie Medina for the
passengers groupthank you, maam, for your presence again; Asec
Edgar Galvante, also of the LTOsir, thank you.
Perhaps we can begin with that. Mag-umpisa po tayo diyan. Ang
LTO po ang nagbibigay ng permit nga dito sa mga sasakyan na
ginagamit natin.
Ano po ang proseso ninyo? Kasi administrative po iyan, kapag
may lumapit sa inyo, magpaparehistro ng sasakyan, ano po ang
basehan ninyo? Tinitingnan ba ninyo mismo iyong makina para
makita? Kasi ako naman hindi ko din masyadong kabisado kung
papano ba talaga nadedetermina ang edad ng isang sasakyan.
Asec, pakisagot po.
MR. GALVANTE. Thank you very much, Madam Chairperson
and Senator Sotto. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Ang LTO po ang nagbibigay ng registration para gamitin ang
sasakyan at bago po sila mabigyan ng registration ay dumadaan sila sa
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pagsuri ng Motor Vehicle Inspection System. Bagamat at the
moment, may kakulangan po tayo dito dahil hindi nagpa-function nang
maayos iyong ating mga equipment na ginagamit sa inspection kaya
nagre-rely po tayo sa physical and visual inspection. At sa drivers
naman po, mayroon silang kailangang ipasang eksaminasyon para
mabigyan po sila ng kaukulang lisensya. At sa pagbibigay din po ng
lisensya, kina-qualify sila kung anong klaseng sasakyan ang pwede
nilang manihuhin given the license provided to them, Your Honors.
SEN. SOTTO. Madam Chair, I am glad you started off with that
particular question to the LTFRB and the LTO because precisely that
was the content of my privilege speech that is now being addressed by
your Committee. It is very sad to note that theyre always blamed.
There are different factors for accidents. We usually blame the driver.
We usually blame the owner of the bus, which we should, but we have
forgotten to blame the person who gave the bus a certificate of
roadworthiness. That is my main concern and thats the reason I
brought up andI delivered a privilege speech kasi alam na natin,
pinag-iinitan natin iyong mga ibang mga factors at ibang mga tao na
involved kung bakit nagkaroon ng aksidenteng ganoon. Pero may
nakakalimutan tayong mas malalim pa doon. Paanong nakatakbo
iyong bus na iyon? Paanong pinayagan iyan?
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Asec Galvante has just informed us that there are equipment
that the LTO has that are not functioning or something to that effect
and you only rely on physical examination of vehicles.
As far as I know, the private cars when you renew their
registration, they only undergo emission test. Are there no other tests
done, like brakes, lights, steering, other safety features of the vehicle
especially the buses that carry a lot of passengers?
MR. GALVANTE. Yes, Your Honor, Madam Chairperson.
Iyon pong kasama sa motor vehicle inspection system, tsini-
check iyong kanilang brake, iyong kanilang steeringmajor
components of the vehicle that should be properly functioning. Again,
at the moment, because of lack of equipment, we rely heavily on the
visual and practical examination that the evaluator of the vehicle is
subjecting the vehicle.
SEN. SOTTO. Who is the evaluator of the vehicle of Bestlink
tour bus that met an accident? Who was he? And when was this
registered and given the certificate of roadworthiness for them to carry
passengers?
MR. GALVANTE. Noong ito po ay irehistro, I think it was way
back middle of Year 2000. It was evaluated, I think in Subic or
Olongapo, Your Honors.
SEN. SOTTO. In Year 2000?
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MR. GALVANTE. 2004.
SEN. SOTTO. 2004. Twelve years ago.
VOICE. [Off-mike]
SEN. SOTTO. No, that is the registration. But Im saying that
when was the last renewal of the registration of the tourist bus?
MR. GALVANTE. It was reevaluated when it was the renewal of
registration was done in 2015 or 2016 at the South Inspection Center,
Your Honor. Its in Pasay.
SEN. SOTTO. I suggest, Asec Galvante, and we know each
other well and I know you will do it, find out who these persons are,
what kind of evaluation they do. Because they are liable for what
happened to this bus.
MR. GALVANTE. We will do that, Your Honor.
SEN. SOTTO. Oo, lahat sila. At saka para matakot itong mga
nag-e-evaluate ng ito na basta sige lang, sige lang. Medyo napa-kape
nang kaunti o may naabot nang kaunti, wala na.
Just this morning, I was listening to a report where a driver who
has a professional drivers license killed a grandmother or an old lady
by running over her and he jumped from a student permit to a
professional drivers license. Paanong nangyayari iyon? Matindi iyong
problema natin, iyong minana ninyo, Asec Egay. Masyadong matindi
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ang problema diyan sa LTO at saka sa LTFRB. I suggest you go to the
roots.
And then, upon the application for a drivers license, do you
conduct lectures regarding road rules and safety? I know you do that,
but is the program or lecture the same for professionals and non-
professionals?
MR. GALVANTE. At the moment, Your Honor, Madam Chair, sa
atin pong licensing procedure, halimbawa, for a starting driver to get a
license starts with a student permit, and after one month of having
that student permit, he can now apply for a non-professional license.
Iyong isa pong medyo siguro dapat higpitan, although
pinapayagan po ng batas, para magkaroon kayo ng professional
license, kailangan lang magkaroon ka ng six monhts as a student
driver. Mukhang dito po ay may kakulangan tayo rito kaya iniiba na
natin ang procedure. And, in fact, pinaghihiwalay po natin. Oo,
paghihiwalayin natin ang examination ng professional saka non-
professional. At nakita po rin natin na ang eksamin ng non-
professional at saka professional at the moment ay pareho, wala pong
kaibahan ang mga binibigay sa kaning eksamin. Kaya po ito ay isa sa
mga binabago natin para lalong matutukan natin na iyong talagang
bibigyan ng lisensya ay sapat ang kanyang kwalipikasyon.
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SEN. SOTTO. Magka-iba ho talaga dapat iyon. So I think its
about time that you do that.
And then, you mentioned na pinapayagan ng batas. Anong
batas po ito na six months lang? The committee of Senator Grace
would be able to address that particular law?
MR. GALVANTE. Iyon pong batas nating original, iyong 4136,
na mga 60s pa po ito ginawa. Bagamat I think some time 2015, nag-
issue po ng administrative order na talagang hindi na pwedeng
magdiretso mula sa student permit diretso sa professional drivers. In
fact, isa pong tinitingnan natin dito ay kahit ikaw ay professional
driver, gusto naming testingin ka doon sa sasakyang gagamitin mo sa
iyong pagiging professional driver. Kasi po napansin natin na even
tricycle drivers are given professional licenses. But, of course, given
the load restriction, hindi rin sila pwedeng magmaneho ... /jmb
17
HSGayapa III-1 March 14, 2017 10:28 a.m. 1
MR. GALVANTE. hindi rin sila puwedeng magmaneho ng
mabibigat na sasakyan.
SEN. SOTTO. We can always address that and I think we
should. As a matter of fact, we should really come up with a
legislation that will allow the LTO to scrutinize the drivers.
Madam Chair, dito sa atin sa Pilipinas if we do an honest-to-
goodness examination of drivers the way it is being done in other
countries especially the United States, I suspect that more than 50
percent of the drivers in the Philippines will not pass. Tiyak iyon.
Hindi aabot ng 50 percent ang papasa, bagsak lahat. Karamihan
babagsak. So, I suggest that you become stricter this time especially
in the renewal of drivers license. Baka puwedeng anuhin nyo ulit,
idaan nyo ulit sa lectures, seminars regarding rules, regulations,
safety requirements more particularly for professional drivers
especially iyong mga nagdadala ng pasahero. Pero dapat iyon pati
non-pro, pati pro. If you need a law for this, let us know. If you can
come up with an administrative order, then all the better. Sapagkat
dapat pagre-renew ng lisensiya ngayon higpitan ninyo. Pag-eksaminin
(examine) nyo ulit. Grabe, hindi lang mga reckless, ang tatanga.
Kaya siguradong babagsak. Sigurado sa tunay na eksaminasyon 50
percent ng driver sa Pilipinas babagsak. Kaya its about it. If we want
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safety for our peopleAnd besides, Madam Chair, I think that is one of
the causes of the traffic. Oo, kita nyo iyong pagpaparada lang, isipin
mo the entire Metro Manila is a parking lot. All the city streets
nakaparada sila. The silver bullet to solve the traffic problem in Metro
Manila especially in EDSA is to declare Metro Manila city streets as no
parking zone, just like Singapore. Pag no parking zone lahat iyanso,
dapat sa parking area lang o parking slot lang ang parada, hindi na
dadaan ng EDSA, Madam Chair. I do that. I drive my car every day
from work to home, from home to work and I know. I dont pass
through EDSA. I pass through the city streets. I get there one hour
earlier but it can be faster if those illegally parked cars are removed in
the city streets. So, sinong gumagawa non? Iyong mga driver din na
tanga. They violate the law. Bina-violate nila papaano hindi dumaan
sa scrutiny. Ang dali-daling makakuha ng lisensiya.
Anyway, Madam Chair, may I move on to the LTFRB? Ill be
very quick because the Commission on Appointments
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Senator Sotto, if you dont
mind, I would just like to acknowledge the presence of Senator Migz
Zubiri and he will make a quick
SEN. ZUBIRI. Thirty second
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THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). A thirty-second
manifestation because he has a hearing to conduct.
SEN. SOTTO. Yes, maam.
SEN. ZUBIRI. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to our
Majority Floor Leader.
Im also chairing the Committee on Trade and Industry on the
other side. Were discussing Consumer Protection Act and were also
discussing the E-Commerce Law.
But, Madam Chair, I just noticed in your agenda there is the Air
Passenger Bill of Rights. And Im also an author of this measure on
Senate Bill No. 1336. But some of the measures are also forwarded to
our committee, Committee on Trade and Industry. Since it is a
consumer protection measure, if its all right with the good
Chairperson of the Committee on Public Services and to the members
of the Committee, if we can have a joint hearing on the Airline
Passenger Bill of Rights. Because I filed a measure also because, you
know, like many of us here, we are also victims of abuses done by
airlines and wed like to rectify that. So, if its okay, Madam Chair,
maybe on this particular measure, Air Passenger Bill of Rights, if we
can just do a joint hearing and then we can hear it together.
20
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Yes, Senator Zubiri, thats
noted and we will have a joint hearing with Public Services as the
primary committee because its about air transport. But as we know
that air transport affects trade and industry, so youre the vital part
also of this hearing. So, that is within
SEN. ZUBIRI. Actually, to correct also that, Madam Chair,
were also in charge of consumer protectionism. Because actually right
now we are doing the amendments to the Consumer Protection Act.
So, buying tickets, riding in airlines is also a part of consumer
protection.
So, thank you, Madam Chair.
Maybe we can have it after the break.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Yes, thank you, Senator
Zubiri.
SEN. ZUBIRI. Thank you very much, Chair.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Senator Tito Sotto.
SEN. SOTTO. Madam Chair, yes. Thank you.
Ill try to be as brief as possible now.
For the LTFRB. For the renewal of franchise for public utility
vehicles, what is the procedure and what are the tests being done? Is
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this testing the same as renewal of registration of privately-owned
vehicles? Will you enlighten us on your procedures?
MR. DELGRA. Yes.
Good morning, Madam Chair and Your Honors, the members of
the Committee.
As regards the jurisdiction over public utility vehicles from buses,
minibus, PUJ, UV, even tourist transport as the bus that figured in the
Tanay accident, they are all under the jurisdiction of the LTFRB. They
are to get a franchise but before they can be granted a franchise to
operate a public utility service, an inspection has to be made for public
utility vehicles but not as highly technical as the LTO because the LTO
is the principal agency which takes care of determining roadworthiness
of vehicles in general. But nevertheless, we do conduct our own
investigation insofar as public utility vehicle is concerned.
Now, as to the
SEN. SOTTO. Like how, Atty. Delgra? How do you inspect
them? You rely on the LTO? You refer them to the LTO, something
like that?
MR. DELGRA. Yes, Your Honor.
But on our part, we do the physical inspection of the vehicle not
too technical as the LTO is supposed to do it also insofar as the
22
physical inspection of the PUVs are concerned or the public utility
vehicles. And the franchise is good for five years and therefore the
physical inspection is normally done before renewal of the franchise.
SEN. SOTTO. Five years. Itong Bestlink, kailan nabigay ang
franchise nito? Haranah Tours.
MR. DELGRA. The Haranah Tours was actually the tourist
transport company which was engaged by Bestlink College of the
Philippines. And because they were lacking in tourist transport bus or
buses for that matter, Haranah Tours subcontracted it to Panda Tours.
SEN. SOTTO. Okay. Iyong Panda Tours, when did they get
their franchise?
MR. DELGRA. They got their franchise about two years ago, if
Im not mistaken. And it is still
SEN. SOTTO. And their buses were inspected?
MR. DELGRA. Insofar as the buses are concerned, Your Honor,
they were inspected as I was told. But as Ive said, the physical
inspection is there is nothing technical about it. But with the accident
that occurred, we have to trace back on the history of the bus for that
matter. And we took it upon ourselves to check with Hino Philippines
which is the manufacturer of the bus which figured in the accident and
Hino Philippines said that they dont have any record of it. And so,
23
they referred the matter to Hino Japan. And Hino Japan confirmed
that the engine or the engine number of that bus is of a different unit
from the chassis number of that same bus. And the manufacturing
date was actually 1988. So, at the time of the accident, the bus was a
29-year old bus. Actually, insofar as the LTFRB is concerned, we
currently have a 15-year phase-out policy. Ibig sabihin ho pag iyong
bus, any public utility vehicleIm talking about bus, would reach the
age of 15 years, kailan na hong palitan. But in this case ho, nalaman
namin kasi ito iyong mga surplus na dumaan sa, if Im not mistaken,
sa Subic, it turned out na the date of manufacture that was stated in
the certificate of registration was 2004 when in fact the date of
manufacture was actually 1988 /hsg
24
Aliccatimbang IV-1 March 14, 2017 10:38 a.m. 1
MR. DELGRA. was actually 1988.
SEN. SOTTO. Hindi ba mayroon na kayong parang policy not to
allow this type of vehicles to be on the road if they are more than 15
years old? Am I correct?
MR. DELGRA. Yes, Your Honor. That is precisely for the buses,
UV and taxi, we already have a 15-year phaseout.
SEN. SOTTO. So how are these other buses on the road now
running?
MR. DELGRA. They actually would comply.
SEN. SOTTO. If youll investigate them as well as how you
investigated that Panda Tours bus, Im sure lalabas marami diyan
hindi--kasi nakikita ko araw-araw. Nakikita ko iyang mga bus na iyan
araw-araw. Bihirang-bihira akong makakita ng bagu-bago hitsura.
Karamihan bulok ang hitsura. And in my privilege speech, there were
minimum of five bus accidentsEDSA, ilang beses sa EDSA and then
NLEX--lahat ng sagot, brakes. Lahat ng sinasabi nawalan ng preno.
Papaanong mawawalan ng--? I am sure you know where I am coming
from, Atty. Delgra. And I hope the information that you have given us
ay narinig ng mga abugado ng mga biktima. Sapagkat matindi ang
pananagutan ng lahat ng iyan, paanong nakalusot iyang mga bus na
iyan at pinapayagan natin.
25
And then, do you issue a certificate of roadworthiness?
MR. DELGRA. Insofar as the LTFRB is concerned, we dont issue
that particular certificate. The fact that they would pass inspection and
later on their franchises would be renewed would be sufficient for us to
say that they already have passed the physical inspection of the
vehicle.
SEN. SOTTO. Well, its about time higpitan niyo na ngayon,
Attorney, Asec Egay. Hindi na puwede iyan. Hindi na puwede iyan.
Lahat ng mga buses na mga luma, huwag ninyong hayaang
nakakapagpalusot na ni-register kasi noong 2002, ni-register noong
2004. Iyon pala ang makina ay 19-kopong-kopong pa. Hindi na ho
puwede. Huwag niyo na pong papayagan iyan.
And then, may we ask you to submit to us this equipment that
are not working, Asec Galvante? So that in the next budget, we can
give you the enough budget to make it operative or to buy new ones?
MR. GALVANTE. We will do that, Your Honor, Madam Chair.
If I may add? We are now in the process of choosing the
probable supplier of this equipment. And insofar as initial funding is
concerned, we feel that this can appropriately be funded from the road
users tax. And part also of the requirement will be sourced from the
PPP arrangements, Your Honors.
26
SEN. SOTTO. All right.
Thank you. Madam Chair.
Anyway we put you to task, the LTO and the LTFRB. I hope this
will never happen again. Pero pag naghigpit kayo, mangyayari iyon.
Pati sa pagbibigay ng lisensiya, maghigpit kayo. Tingnan ninyo
magiging mas maganda epekto para sa bansa natin.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Thank you, Senator Tito
Sotto.
Actually si Senator Sotto may pinaghuhugutan talaga iyan. Gaya
nga ng sinabi niya, siya mismo, siya lang siguro ang senador na
nagda-drive araw-araw papunta dito sa trabaho at pauwi. Kaya
nararamdaman niya iyong nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan.
At talagang maraming mga nagmamaneho na hindi sumusunod sa
tamang tuntunan dito sa kalsada.
Id like first to acknowledge the presence of our hardworking Vice
Chair of the Public Services Committee, Senator JV Ejercito.
Doon ba sa inyong mga pagbibigay ng review sa mga driver,
kunyari, mag-e-exam sila, first time silang kukuha ng lisensiya,
mayroon ba kayong manual na nire-review nila para sa exam?
Mayroon ba kayong video presentation? Kasi iyong iba hindi talaga
27
marunong magbasa pero nakakapasa, nakakakuha ng lisensiya.
Noong minsan ay napagdiskusyunan na naminewan ko kung sa inyo
po. Baka hindi sa inyo, Asec Galvante. Pero wala ba kayong video
presentation ng mga basic road signs o ano? Para habang naghihintay
sila, iyon ang pinapanood nila.
MR. GALVANTE. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Sa ngayon po ay pawang posters lang po ito. But we are now
reproducing an old manual. Binabago po natin ito para kumbaga
updated po ito. And we are in the process of having this finalized, then
for reprinting and distribution.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So ngayon po, wala po,
walang manual?
MR. GALVANTE. Mayroon pong luma na. And mukhang hindi
na po ito, kumbaga, in keeping with the times. Kaya po ito ay nire-
review natin. In fact, kahit po iyong mga examination questions, we
are in the process of amending them.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Usually how many questions
do you give on an average license exam?
MR. GALVANTE. Sa pagkakaalam ko mga 735 ito. Pero ang
ginagawa po namin ngayon, bumubuo po kami ng pool of questions,
mga 5,000 po ito, kung saan iyong computer ang random na pipili nito
28
para itoy ibibigay doon sa examinee so that no two examination takers
would have the same questions.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So in the meantime, they
have the same questions pulled from the 700?
MR. GALVANTE. Ngayon po ay mayroong mga sets. Kaya
kung ano pong makuhang set noong examinee, iyon ang kaniyang
sasagutin at maaari pong ito ay iba doon sa kahit na kasabay niyang
kumukuha ng examination.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So kunyari ako, hindi naman
ako nakapagbayad, lets say, ng professional school para magturo sa
aking magmaneho. Pupunta ako ng LTO, mag-e-exam ako. Papaano
ako magrerepaso wala kayong manual? So iyong mga nakapaskil lang
doon.
MR. GALVANTE. Iyong nakapaskil lang po sa ngayon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So pag-aaralan mo. Ilan ba
iyong questions sa isang exam? Mayroon bang mga singkuwenta,
treinta?
MR. GALVANTE. Ang dapat po doon sa singkuwentang
questions na sasagutin nila, they should get at least 35 so that they
can pass.
29
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). At nakakapasa. Maraming
cheating diyan ano?
MR. GALVANTE. Aminin po namin iyon na kahit po iyong ating
mga posters ay nakapaskil doon sa examination rooms kaya
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Puwede ba unahin na natin
iyan? Alisin ninyo iyong mga nakapaskil na poster sa examination
room? Thats the start. Put it where at least they are lining upI
mean, common sense. Im glad that you brought this up, Asec.
Nakapaskil pala doon so parang open notes, hindi ba, iyong exam.
So kaya naman pala, Tito Sen. Hindi na tayo nagtaka noon na
siguro kaya ganyan nga, hindi nila nasasaulo iyong mga regulasyon
ukol dito.
So, siguro this Committee can do a spot check in an LTO office
just to see how the exams are conducted.
You were mentioning the equipment. How many LTO inspection
facilities do you have in the country, sir? Do you have one region?
And how many in NCR?
MR. GALVANTE. Hindi po one per region. Napakalaki po ng
ating kakulangan. In fact, nag-request po kami na ma-repair iyong
siyam na inspection stations. Bagamat may nakuha po kaming advice
30
na dahil sa kalumaan nito, mas magiging advantageous po para sa
gobyerno na bumili na ho ng bago.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ilan nga po ang inyong
inspection stations?
MR. GALVANTE. Sa pagkakaalam ko po, siyam po ito na
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Siyam sa buong Pilipinas?
MR. GALVANTE. Sa buong Pilipinas.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Taun-taon nadadagdagan
tayo ng ilang commercial buses na nagpaparehistro or commercial
vehicles?
MR. GALVANTE. Im sorry, Your Honor, I dont have the
figures. But well provide you.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). But in the hundredsMs.
Elvie, tumatango-tango ka diyan. Ilan po sa tingin ninyo?
MS. MEDINA. Actually, maam, wala po ngayong nabibigyan ng
franchise na bagong mga buses because they have stopped already
the dropping and substitution. In the meanwhile, this will be borne out
by our LTFRB.
Sir, wala namang lumalabas ngayon na bagongwala pang
dropping and substitution, di po ba?
MR. DELGRA. Mayroon na.
31
MS. MEDINA. Mayroon na. Kasi tinatanong ni maam kung ilan
daw iyong buses na lumalabas.
Pero I remember, maamI think that was 2013when they
requested for a budget para diyan sa MVIS na sinasabi. What I said to
the group doon sa budget preparation ng DOTC, why dont we make a
policy that the vehicles will go back to the manufacturer? Because it is
the manufacturernumber one, the manufacturer will not allow
himself to go in an anomalous /alicc
32
CBGealan V-1 March 14, 2017 10:48 a.m. 1
MS. MEDINA. an anomalous or corrupt practice, and they will
be the ones to know iyong talagang make noong kanilang sasakyan.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Maam, what do you mean
that you go back to the manufacturer?
MS. MEDINA. For the MVIS, for the inspection and certification
of roadworthiness.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So in this case, lets say, the
Panda bus
MS. MEDINA. Yes.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). go back to Hino Japan.
MS. MEDINA. Thats right. Iyon ang a very classic case.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). But how do they do it?
What did they
MS. MEDINA. Yes po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). How do they determine that,
maam?
MS. MEDINA. Iyon pong, maam, na ano, iyong mismong
manufacturer will be able to trace his own product. Katulad noon,
maam, iyongvery classic po iyong sa Hino na iyan. Hino Philippines
did not even know the manufacturing date so they had to go back to
Japan, pero kung iyon pong ating LTO group ang gagawa niyan, they
33
will be at a loss kung saan hahanapin iyon. So kahit po iyong mga
private vehicles, ang recommendation po namin noon is let the
manufacturers do the roadworthiness certificate. Iyon nga hindi
magkakaroon ng corruption, natural, like, example Toyota po, hindi
niya papayagan na sirain iyong pangalan niya na matapos niyang
bigyan ng roadworthiness nasira iyong brake o kaya M-A-N iyong MAN.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Oo nga. Kaya nga po,
maam, iyong sinasabi nga natin the trucks are cannibalized, you have
a chassis thats different from the manufacturer of the engine
MS. MEDINA. Yes.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). and I think Engineer
Albert here has something to add to this.
MR. SUANSING. Magandang umaga po sa inyo.
Iyon pong particular na bus na iyan, iyang Hino, kaya po hindi
alam ng Hino Philippines iyan kasi iyong bus na iyan ginawa sa Japan.
Manufactured po iyan sa Japan, then after a while it was brought here
in the Philippines as surplus. Buo ho iyan. Buo ho iyan.
Ngayon, maaaring iyong kung bakit nagkaiba iyong makina dahil
pinalitan nila iyong makina. Theres nothing anomalous as far as
changing the engine is concerned. Lumabas po iyan sa Subic na
nainspeksyon doon sa Subic na roadworthy.
34
Ngayon ang nagiging problema po natin, nabanggit niyo iyong
tungkol sa MVIS. Noong ako ho ang LTO chief noon noong panahon na
iyon, kasama ko po si Usec Anne Lontoc, nakapagbuo ho kami ng apat
na MVIS. Ang programa po natin at that time ay maggawa ng MVIS sa
bawat regions. In fact, there are regions, because of the number of
vehicles, mas maraming MVIS, dalawa
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pakisabi nga anong ibig
sabihin ng MVIS.
MR. SUANSING. Motor Vehicle Inspection System.
Noon pong panahon namin, kumuha ho kami ng pondo from the
road users charge, iyong sa Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Fund, iyon
po ang ginamit namin para magbuo ng
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Magkano po ang isang
MVIS?
MR. SUANSING. Depende ho kasi, kasi kung pati lupa
bibilhin
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Hindi, hindi.
Okay. Iyong mismong makina, hindi ba?
MR. SUANSING. Iyon hong makina, marami ho iyon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ah, marami.
35
MR. SUANSING. Kasi ho iyong MVIS, ang tine-test diyan iyong
above carriage at saka under carriage.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So ang isang setup
po, isang installation ng MVIS kasama lahat ng kailangan, ano po iyong
budget? Pati iyong tao siguro na tatao na rin doon.
MR. SUANSING. Noong panahon namin nasamay 100 million
ba iyong isa noon? Iyong isang ano ho. Hindi, kasi bawat
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Asec Galvante, magkano po
iyong
MR. SUANSING. Hindi, si Usec Anne ho ang mas nakakaalam
noon because at that time siya ang ano noon.
MR. GALVANTE. Madam Chair, Your Honors, noon pong in-
evaluate natin iyong mga existing MVIS, nakita po natin na at least
100M ang kakailanganin to rehabilitate this, both the structure and the
equipment, Your Honors.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). And thats only for nine,
right?
MR. GALVANTE. No, for one. For one.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). No, no. Im sorry.
We only have currently nine, right?
MR. GALVANTE. Opo.
36
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So 100 million is for one.
So if we want to expand to more than nine MVIS stations, we need
billions, hindi ba?
Ilan ba ang ideal sa ating bayan sa dami ng ating iniinspeksyon?
Kung siyam mayroon kayo, gaano kahaba ang pila doon at gaano
katagal kungIlan ang kailangan pa ninyo?
MR. GALVANTE. Actually, sa nire-recommend po natin, Madam
Chair, Your Honors, ay at least one per region, kaya lang mayroon po
tayong mga island regions and island provinces, kailangan po natin ng
hiwalay. And, in fact, were also proposing na iyong tinatawag na
mobile MVIS na magagamit. And, again, mayroon pong mga nag-o-
offer nito na available naman po ito kaya nga lang po ay iyong
kailangan ng pondo at iyong bilis ng pag-release ng pondo.
At isa pa po rito, iyong sa evaluation nga po, kahit na po nag-
submit kami ng estimate na 100 million per day hindi po sila
makagarantiya na tatagal po ito, considering na iyong ating present na
MVIS daw ay kumbaga ay obsolete na po kaya ang nire-recommend
nila ay bumili na po ng bago na mas advanced ang kakayahan.
SEN. EJERCITO. Thank you, Madam Chair.
37
Tanong ko lang po, doon sa mga MVIS natuloy ko lang po,
ano. So nine na MVIS, ibig sabihin ho ba noon wala na ho sa kanila
ang operational at this time?
MR. GALVANTE. Sa ngayon po ang medyo katanggap-tanggap
ang operasyon ay iyon pong nasa Alaminos, Laguna. At in fact, ito po
ay nagsi-serve sa almost all of Southern Luzon, kaya talaga pong
kulang po iyong ating equipment para dito.
SEN. EJERCITO. So isa na lang po. Asec Galvante, isa na lang
po ang operational out of the nine?
MR. GALVANTE. Iyon po. Iyon po ang
SEN. EJERCITO. Kailan pa ho iyon sinimulan, former LTO Chief
Suansing, kailan ho ninyo na-establish lahat iyon?
MR. SUANSING. 2008 po.
SEN. EJERCITO. Lahat po iyong siyam?
MR. SUANSING. Iyong apat.
SEN. EJERCITO. Apat.
MR. SUANSING. Uh-huh.
SEN. EJERCITO. Okay. Tapos noon, noong nagkaroon ng
panibagong administrasyon, ano po ang nangyari bakit ho hindi na-
maintain? Wala na ho sila.
38
MR. SUANSING. Nag-iba po sila ng plano noong nakaraaang
administrasyon.
SEN. EJERCITO. Hindi, nakikita ko po iyong mga MVIS na iyon,
kaya nga nagtaka rin po ako parang napabayaan at biglang nawala.
Parang hindi na masyadongIyon nga, like Asec Galvante said, iisa na
lang po ang gumagana sa ngayon.
MR. SUANSING. Nag-iba nga po sila siguro ng plano.
SEN. EJERCITO. Ng plano.
MR. SUANSING. Opo, kung papaanong bubuuin iyong lahat ng
MVIS sa buong Pilipinas.
SEN. EJERCITO. Halimbawa, kasi po siguro
MR. SUANSING. Ang bawat isang MVIS po is apat ang lane
noon.
SEN. EJERCITO. Okay.
MR. SUANSING. Dalawang lane para sa light vehicles, isang
lane, tapos iyong dalawang lane para sa heavy vehicles, commercial
vehicles. Tapos mayroon pang lane para sa motorsiklo.
SEN. EJERCITO. At present ho nandoon pa naman sila, iyong
mga lugar, hindi lang ho operational?
MR. SUANSING. Opo.
SEN. EJERCITO. Iyong mga sites are still there
39
MR. SUANSING. Opo.
SEN. EJERCITO. except that the equipment need to be
rehabilitated.
MR. SUANSING. Uh-huh.
SEN. EJERCITO. Madam Chair, siguro, I think we have to, if
this will be necessary, probably we can put a budget for rehabilitation
in case LTO would recommend because this concerns lives, right? And
I do not mind if its 100 million per site because wala naman presyo
iyong buhay, hindi ho ba? So we would not mind if we would have to
put billions as long as the safety of our riding public is ensured. The
problem, Madam Chair, is every time theres a change of
administration, nagbabago ng focus, kahit maganda iyong programa
MVIS, I would say, is a very good program because it ensures the road
worthiness of our public transportation, but because there was a
change, mukhang napabayaan kasi doon iyon sinimulan. Laging may
ganoon. So we hope that this time around, Asec Galvante, sana
simulan niyo na kahit sino po nakaupo, magkaroon man ng pagbabago
ng administrasyon, pag maganda dapat ituloy, hindi ho ba? Tulad ng
MVIS, Madam Chair, I think it will be a very effective way of ensuring
the safety of the riding public.
40
Tanong ko lang po sa ano, sino po ang nag-imbestiga doon sa
Bestlink accident sa Tanay, mayroon ho ba?
Yes, Atty. Delgra. What was the findings? Totoo bang brake
failure? Mayroon bang skid marks?
MR. DELGRA. Actually, insofar as the accident is concerned,
considering that it involves a public utility bus, it is incumbent upon the
LTFRB to investigate. So on the day of the accident, we issued the
preventive suspension order suspending preventively, for 30 days at
least, the entire franchise of Panda Tours, and then we set it for
hearing. So it was during that hearing that we are able to cull out
several facts.
From the parties themselves, from Haranah Tours, from Panda
Tours, from Bestlink College of the Philippines, and even from the
victims, nalaman namin, among other things, iyong sinabi namin
kanina na iyong real age nga pala ng bus /cbg
41
BRHGonzales VI-1 March 14, 2017 10:58 a.m. 1
MR. DELGRA. real age nga pala ng bus ay hindi 15 years but
29 years.
I just like to point a little about what was said earlier about the
MVIS ho. The reason why we put a 15-year cap on the age of buses is
precisely because walang effective MVIS system iyong LTO. Kung
mayroon lang sana ho, malalaman natin. Kahit na more than 15 years
ang bus if its still roadworthy, puwede sigurong payagan na
magpapatakbo iyong bus. But apparently, since wala hong effective
MVIS, nandoon iyong cap namin na 15-year age of buses.
SEN. EJERCITO. Tanong ko lang ho, Atty. Delgra, because Im
just concerned, iyong mga nabanggit kanina, iyong mga surplus buses,
nauso iyan noong 90s, ilan kaya iyong porsyento ng mga public utility
buses na mga surplus pa?
MR. DELGRA. Im sorry, at this point, we dont have the
number yet.
SEN. EJERCITO. Wala kayong ano. Kasi doon po ako medyo
nagwo-worry kasi ang mga surplus, gaya ng sinabi ninyo, madalas
iyan, pinagpapalit-palit na, hindi ho ba? Talagang binubuo na lang
iyan sa Subic, tapos sasabihin roadworthy, magagamit kaya lang
marami pa diyan converted, hindi ho ba? Marami diyan galing sa
Japan, hindi ho ba?
42
So again, safety will again be a concern because alam ninyo pag
converted ang vehicle, especially kung hindi maganda ang conversion,
lalo na noonghindi bale iyong mga galing Subic, medyo matagal na.
Mayroon pang nanggaling ng Cagayan for a time, hindi ho ba? Doon
po, medyo hindi magaganda ang conversion. So I just like to have an
idea kung gaano pa karami ang tumatakbong mga surplus buses.
Probably, Atty. Delgra or former LTO Chief Suansing can give us
an idea.
Please, Chairman, sige po.
MR. DELGRA. As Ive said earlier, we dont have the numbers.
But insofar as surplus buses ho, so long as they would fit within the
15-year age of buses, we would still allow. And provided, of course,
even if less than 15 years iyong bus, kung hindi naman roadworthy,
then we would not allow anymore the giving of franchise for such a
unit. Perhaps in the next scheduled hearing, we might be able to
provide the numbers, Your Honor.
SEN. EJERCITO. So what was the finding, Atty. Delgra? Was
it brake failure, was it the bus drivers error?
MR. DELGRA. On the technical side ho, we were not able to
determine iyong what actually was the cause of the accident but we
were told because we went to the site. At one time, we went there to
43
have mass there at the site with the families and the first responders.
And then, we were told by the policePNP of Tanay na wala hong skid
marks. At least that is one significant finding.
SEN. EJERCITO. Thats a very significant finding. Kung
walang skid marks, ibig sabihin, wala nang preno.
MR. DELGRA. At saka pababa nang pababa ho iyong daanan
so its quite unusual na wala kang skid marks sa ganoong klaseng
pangyayari.
SEN. EJERCITO. Likewise, probably its not always iyong
pagkakawala ng preno, especially on the mountainiyong mga
pupunta ho ng Baguio, iyan, pumupunta ng Tanay, pumupunta ng mga
mountain provinces, that would require a special skill for bus drivers,
hindi ho ba?
Ang itatanong ko lang ho siguro, probably LTO, LTFRB can
answer medo bus drivers operating in long-haul trips, iyong mga
mountain-going routes, are they given special training o kaya
tinitingnan ba kung talagang sila po ay capable ofkasi iba ang skill
niyan, hindi ho ba? Iyong pagbababa lang, pag hindi marunong, iyong
mga galing Baguio, talagangkung hindi marunong mag-engine brake,
mangangamoy at mangangamoy just like what witnessesI heard,
44
some of the witnesses or the survivors of the Bestlink accident,
nangangamoy na.
So, Chairman, sige po, mayroon ho ba tayong special skills on
how to determine if the bus drivers are skilled enough, lalo na iyong sa
mga mountain-going routes?
MR. DELGRA. As a matter of policy ho, you mentioned about
drivers training, insofar as LTFRB is concerned, there were initiatives
coming from the regional offices of our drivers academy training.
Were going to institutionalize ho that drivers academy training. In
fact, we already have the manual and were going to launch it
sometime April or May, in coordination ho with LTO and with TESDA.
Kasi ho iyong TESDA, mayroon ho silang drivers academy training ho
kung saan pag matapos sila doon sa training na iyan, binibigyan iyong
tinatawag na NC-3 (National Certificate Level 3). And on our own as
well, we would be training public utility drivers ho where exclusive to
public utility drivers.
Having said that, iyong mga nag-a-apply ng prangkisa ho sa
LTFRB, we would require the list of authorized drivers as well. In fact,
were going to now put up a system of all public utility drivers para
malaman na rin namin kung sinu-sino and which company they belong
to and then we would be able to monitor iyong performance ng mga
45
drivers nila vis--vis the operators who have franchises before the
LTFRB. Were going to launch it ho as early as April if not May on that
one.
SEN. EJERCITO. Well, thats good to hear, Atty. Delgra,
chairman of LTFRB, because you must remember ang isang bus ay
parang eroplano na rin ho iyankalahating eroplano. Youre ferrying
about 60 to 70 or sometimes 80 passengers, hindi ho ba?
So thats why this representation also was the principal author of
the Speed Limiters Act and later on, I will ask the status. This
particular measure was passed last year and the IRR was justI dont
know if it is already completed because I think this will help a lot
because a lot of bus accidents involve also overspeeding. So this
measure was passed. And as I understand, most of the new buses
naman are already fitted with the speed limiter. Its a matter of
programming. Ill go back to that later on.
Doon po sa nangyari sa Tanay againIll just go backmayroon
ho bang witness na puwedeng ano? Narinig ko ho kasi. Sino kaya ang
puwedeng makapagsabi?
MR. SUANSING. Your Honor.
SEN. EJERCITO. Yes, Engineer Suansing.
46
MR. SUANSING. Your Honor, ang officer in charge po ng
Tanay Municipal Police Station sumulat po sa amin at humingi ng
tulong para ma-examine iyong bus na na-involve sa road crash sa
Tanay. So ang ginawa po namin, nagbuo po kami ng team, kasama po
namin ang NBI, ang Hino Philippines at kami. Nagpunta po kami sa
Tanay upang inspeksyunin ang bus.
If we can have themayroon po kaming maigsing presentation.
SEN. EJERCITO. Sige po. Please. Kasi gusto rin naming
malaman. And this will help us also in our anoin aid of legislation on
what measures, what policies that we can introduce.
MR. SUANSING. Unahin po muna natin iyong kalsada na
dinaanan noong bus, about two kilometers away from the crash site
and then we will go to the bus itself.
SEN. EJERCITO. Sige po. Im quite familiar with that route
because Tanay is where our family resthouse.
MR. SUANSING. Ah, yes.
SEN. EJERCITO. And also I always travel there kaya medyo
talagang that would require a special skill kasi may mga areas doon na
medyo matatarik talaga. And mamaya, gusto ko ring malaman, kung
sinuman sa mga witness, na nangangamoy na raw iyon prior to the
47
crash, may nangangamoy na. Its either clutch iyon or preno, hindi ho
ba?
So sabi ko nga kanina, kung iyong bus driver ay hindi po skilled
sa mgahindi sila sanay sa mountainous areas, pag preno lang nang
preno iyan, eventually, mawawala ang preno pag uminit na.
MR. SUANSING. Ito po, Your Honor, iyong[showing the
video clip of the site]
SEN. EJERCITO. So itstama ho, hindi ba? Hindi naman iyan
lagi. Iyong brake failure, its not the equipment but sometimes the
skill of the driver. Pag preno siya nang preno, talagang mawawala at
mawawala ang preno niyan pagtapos, mag-iinit.
MR. SUANSING. Two kilometers away from the crash site,
nasa ibaba po iyon so in most probability, nag-pick-up siya ng speed
dahil paahon ho iyong lugar na iyan at nag-uumpisang mag-zigzag.
If you will notice, ang DPWH ho ay gumagawa ng road-widening
diyan sa ibang parte ng kalsadang iyan. As far as road signs are
concerned, mayroon naman pong mga road signs ang DPWH. Mayroon
pa nga hong mga rumble strips.
SEN. EJERCITO. Im very familiar with this. Even the roads
here are nice. Maganda ang brhg
48
MPMENDOZA VII-1 March 14, 2017 11:08 a.m. 1
SEN. EJERCITO. Maganda ang banking diyan.
MR. SUANSING. Opo. And rumble strips are provided. Okay.
Malapit na po tayo sa crest noong kalsada. Near the crash site,
mayroong construction na ginagawa ang DPWHwidening. Ayan,
nakita niyo may mga ekwipo na nandiyan.
SEN. EJERCITO. Mukhang bago pang asphalt overlay.
MR. SUANSING. Bago lang pong gawa iyon, sir.
SEN. EJERCITO. Bagung-bago.
MR. SUANSING. Actually, before the crash somewhere here,
mayroong mga barriers po diyan na sinudsod niya iyon. I would say
na iyong disposition ng driver ang pinag-uusapan diyan sa parteng
iyan.
Ayan, nag-umpisa na pong pababa iyan.
SEN. EJERCITO. So galing po siya sa taas, sa Sampaloc?
MR. SUANSING. Galing sa taas, opo. Pababa na ho siya and
winding iyong kalsada. May rumble strips so may enough warning sa
driver na there is danger ahead. Then iyong mga ibang barriers diyan
sa gilid ay actually sinudsod niya iyon. As Ive said na iyong
disposition niya ang pagkakamali. Dito ho sa kanan is ano ito, gilid ng
bundok; dito sa kaliwa ang bangin. Soiyan, malapit na tayo sa ano
SEN. EJERCITO. Papunta ho ito sa Manila East Road?
49
MR. SUANSING. Opo.
SEN. EJERCITO. Hindi ito iyong papuntang Marcos, tama?
MR. SUANSING. Hindi po, hindi po.
SEN. EJERCITO. Actually, mas medyo matatarik dito.
MR. SUANSING. Iyan may rumble strips diyan so dapat
warning na iyon sa kanya na delikado iyong lugar, may danger ahead.
SEN. EJERCITO. Tanong ko lang ho, Engineer Suansing. Saan
ho ito, bandang gitna na?
MR. SUANSING. Opo.
SEN. EJERCITO. Nang pababa?
MR. SUANSING. Iyan, dito, malapit na diyan. Dito muna siya
pumunta, dito sa gilid na ito, then dapat itinuloy na niya para na-kanal
lang dapat iyong bus. Ang nangyari, nag-bounce to the left iyong bus
andplease proceedthen tinamaan niya iyong poste dito, then
huminto siya roon. Kung tinuloy niya sa kanan, hindi na niya kinabig,
malalaglag lang sa kanal dito. May kanal dito.
SEN. EJERCITO. So maliwanag ho, wala hong skid marks?
MR. SUANSING. Wala hong skid marks and the most
probability, nataranta na iyong driver so inapak-apakan niya iyong
preno nang matagal so nag-init iyong preno
50
SEN. EJERCITO. Hindi. Iyan nga ho ang sinasabi ko doon sa
mga hindi talaga marunong magmaneho sa bundok, I dont think its
always the equipment failure so pwede ho talagang preno siya nang
preno without using the engine brake, mag-iinit ho talaga.
Siguro we can ask any of theId just like to ask any of the bus
operators present.
Mayroon ho ba kayong evaluations, special evaluation doon sa
mga bus drivers? Sino ba ang pwedeng mag-anoGM ng Haranah
Tours, si Mr. Jaime.
Tanungin ko lang ho sa inyo. Iyong mga bus drivers niyo ba
tinitingnan niyo kung marunong ho silangmayroon ba kayong
mountain going routes?
MR. TAN. Opo. Magandang araw po, Senator.
Opo. Ang kadalasan po sa aming mga driver, bago ho sila mag-
drive, tini-testing ho muna sila ng aming mekaniko kung marunong
silang magmaneho at kung gaano katagal na po ang kanilang
experience sa pagmamaneho po. At ako ay nagpapasalamat po sa 15
years na po naming serbisyo sa turismo ng pagpaparenta ng bus ay
wala pa po kaming major accident po na nangyari sa amin.
SEN. EJERCITO. Hindi. Bukod sa marunong magmaneho
maraming marunong magmaneho.
51
MR. TAN. Opo.
SEN. EJERCITO. Iyon pong special skills nga ho dahil
maraming mga buses natin pumupunta ng Baguio, umaakyat ng
Mountain Province, sa Isabela, dumadaan ng Dalton Pass, may mga
dumadaan ng pa-Quezon naman, papuntang Bicol, akyat-baba rin
iyon.
So gusto ko lang malaman kung ang mga bus drivers niyo ba
tinuturuan ng special skills noong sa bundok, lalo na iyong pababa;
hindi bale iyong paakyat. Ang problema iyong pababa.
MR. TAN. Opo. Kadalasan po iyong mga driver po namin, nag-
o-ocular po kami sa lugar na mga pinagbabiyahihan bago po tumutuloy
sa isang lugar po.
SEN. EJERCITO. Dapat siguro parang ano rin ito, parang
airline, dapat may check pilot. Mayroon ho ba kayong ganoon? Iyong
parang mayroon kayong pinaka-chief driver niyo, tinitingnan kung
talagang marunong bago niyo pakawalan.
MR. TAN. Opo. Mayroon po kami at kadalasan po iyong aming
pinaka-head na driver po, siya ang nagsasabi kung mag-i-stop over
kung malayo ang biyahe.
SEN. EJERCITO. I am very particular because I know, I also
drive. Just like Senator Sotto, mahilig ho akong mag-drive. Talagang
52
marami akong napansin na mga hindiiyong mga driver na hindi
marunong sa bundok, pag pumreno, amoy na amoy mo kaagad,
nangangamoy ang preno. So gusto kong malaman kung lahat ng
driver niyoespecially those mountain going routes, iyong dumadaan
sa mga bundok, kung lahat sila tinuturuan ng special skills, lalo na
iyong pag pababa, iyong pag-i-engine brake. Thats very important
because its not always the failure of the equipment or the brake
system; kadalasan ang nagkakaaksidente diyan iyong hindi marunong.
So tinitingnan niyo ba ang inyong drivers kung marunong sa
pababa?
MR. TAN. Sa amin po, opo, kasi nag-o-ocular po kami plus
mayroon kaming evaluation sa mga driver na galing sa aming mga
pasahero.
SEN. EJERCITO. Sir, probably, I just like to ask siguro
Chairman Delgra and Asec Galvante. I hope you can especially take
note of this. You can issuememo niyo lang siguro iyan. Iyong
special skills especially for mountain, iyong mga long haul bus routes,
iyong mga pumupunta ng mga bundok, talagang iyong pababaako,
palagay ko, iyong kadalasang nawawalan ng preno dahil hindi
marunong ang driver.
53
MR. SUANSING. Your Honor, itutuloy po natin iyong
presentation.
SEN. EJERCITO. Sige po, sige po.
MR. SUANSING. Ito po iyong hitsura ng bus right after the
road crash.
SEN. EJERCITO. So tumama muna siya roon sa
MR. SUANSING. Sa poste.
SEN. EJERCITO. Hindi. Sa kanan muna, hindi na, bago sa
kaliwa?
MR. SUANSING. Sa kanantumama muna sa kanan tapos
pumunta sa kaliwa. So iyan po ang hitsura ng bus, rested on the
opposite lane ng kalsada.
SEN. EJERCITO. Ang nangyari, nag-panic siguro iyong driver
noong nag-bounce?
MR. SUANSING. Nag-panic po iyong driver, opo. Ito na ho
iyong bus noong
SEN. EJERCITO. So talagang walang skid marks?
MR. SUANSING. Wala pong skid marks kasi nga po hindi na
kumagat iyong preno.
SEN. EJERCITO. Engineer Suansing, imposible ring hindi
magpreno ang driver kapag mag-ano.
54
MR. SUANSING. Yes.
SEN. EJERCITO. Ibig sabihin, nagkaroon ng brake failurepero
ako, more than the equipment problem, I feel its the driver ang may
problema rito.
MR. SUANSING. Ito na ho iyong hitsura ng bus noong
ininspeksyon namin, nahati na halos noong dinala na sa impounding
area.
Next frame, please. Iyan ho, hiwalay na iyong front axle niya
doon sa bus. Ang object po ng inspection namin is tingnan iyong
preno.
So next slide, please. What we did was we removed the left rear
tire noong bus para ma-inspection namin iyong preno.
Iyong NBI po, ang ginawa nila, nag-macro etching sila doon sa
chassis at saka sa engine. And ito po iyong preno niya. Kung
mapapansin niyo, iyong brake lining niya, makapal pero mayroong
signs na nasunog /mpm
55
MR. SUANSING. signs na nasunog dahil sa--it was subjected
to intense heat. Ito iyong brake lining. Tiningnan namin iyong wheel
cylinder. Ito pong type ng bus na ito fluid po ito, hindi po ito airbrake
fluid po iyan. So tiningnan namin iyong wheel cylinder, wala naman
pong pumuslit. So functioning iyong brakes niya.
Next slide, please. Iyan. You will notice iyong brake lining
mukhang bagong palit pa nga. Kaya lang mayroon siyang ano ng
sunog ng brake lining.
Next slide, please. Ito naman po iyong brake drum. Iyong brake
drum mano-notice ninyo po kung ano hindi lang maliwanag iyong ano,
nagkaroon ng iyong glazing na tinatawag so that means the brake
drum was also subjected to intense heat. And the other thing that we
found out noong binuksan po namin iyong transmission, iyon pong
selector niyahindi lang nakita diyannasa neutral.
SEN. EJERCITO. Ano po iyong nasa neutral, iyong
transmission?
MR. SUANSING. Noong binuksan namin iyong transmission,
iyon pong selector niya nasa neutral.
SEN. EJERCITO. At the time of the crash?
MR. SUANSING. Opo.
SEN. EJERCITO. Talagang mas mahirap pigilan ho iyon?
56
MR. SUANSING. Bumubuwelo na pababa iyon.
SEN. EJERCITO. At wala man langhindi na mapipigilan pa ng
engine brake?
MR. SUANSING. Wala nang engine brake iyon, hindi ho pwede.
SEN. EJERCITO. Wala na talaga.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Doon po sa inyong pagi-
imbestiga, ilan pong taon ang experience ng driver na iyon sa
pagmamaneho?
MR. SUANSING. Hindi na po namin nakausap iyong driver
pero--
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Hindi iyong driver. Sa
inyong nakitang imbestigasyon doon sa may-ari nung tour or Panda?
Sino po ang nagi-imbestiga nun, LTO ba?
MR. SUANSING. Hindi po. Malalaman iyon sa kung kailan siya
nakakuha ng drivers license.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kaya nga. Mayroon na
bang nag-imbestiga nun? Kailan na-issue iyong drivers license nung
driver na iyon? Ilang taon na siya? Parang basic po na tanong iyon.
MR. GALVANTE. We are sorry, Your Honor, we dont have the
data at the moment but we will provide you, Your Honor.
57
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). I think thats one of the first
things that we will havethat you consider, the experience of the
driver, the track record, if he is familiar with the route. Perhaps, it
might be one of the first times that he has driven there but has he
been to other areas like that. Im so disappointed na wala man lang
nagtanong kung ilang taon nang nagmamaneho ang driver na iyon.
Ms. Elvie?
MS. MEDINA. Madam Chair, back in 2009, now Usec Anne
Lontoc, was in charge of the Road Safety Management Committee of
DOTC. And under her was our subcommittee in charge of these
emergency accidentsemergency incidents on the road. So what we
did is we develop, together with some experts, a forensic protocol for
road crashes. And in that protocol, we identified the basic causes of
road crash. We saw the importance of human factor--human factor
being not just the driver, not just his skill but also his psychological
setup at the time of the incident. The other human factor is the driver
or the assistbecause most of the time, the conductor or the assistant
becomes a navigator. So he also assists the driver. The other
human factors are also the passengers. Were the passengers at ease?
Because this happens sometimes when during excursions when the
passengers are very, very noisy, they are all hyped and energetic, the
58
bus driver sometimes loses focus. The other human factor is the
people on the street. Sometimes there are people who just cross the
street all of a sudden, so thats the human factor. The other factor is
the vehicle. As we have now, we have theEngineer Suansing has
talked to us about the things that they investigated but in the forensic
protocol, there are more than 40 items that are to be tested. For
example, the body itself, the gauge of thethe body of the bus and so
on. And also at the time of the accident, where are the victims
seated? Because there you will find out which is the most vulnerable
part of the vehicle so that there could be measures to address those
vulnerable seats. So there are things thatalso we talked about the
road. Many of what we heard from the news is that that road was
really also vulnerable. There had been many accidents. So that is also
one factor that we have placed in the forensic protocol. The other is
like even the weather. During the Benguet incident, we found out in 10
minutes fog arises. I dont know if you remember the Florida bus
Benguet accident. So we were asking why the safety steel bars along
the road were only two feet tall. Its not even half the size of the
wheelsof the tires. So they said because they are only following the
international standards which was done in the 50s yet when the size
of the buses were not even the size of the buses now. So these are
59
things that have to be looked at. Also, what is the first thing that has
to be done when an accident like this happens. Like, for example,
securing the place of the accident. Gathering of data, how is it done?
I remember that there is already a law that was passed whether or not
the driver is dead or alive, there should be a medical examination in
his alcohol or drug level. Was there something like that done in this
case?
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Actually, Ms. Elvie, what
you presented is really quite enlightening. Of course, there are many
different factors at play.
MS. MEDINA. Yes.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). And I think this proves the
relevance now of our--the subject of our hearing, to have a National
Transport Safety Board. Because we dont know who is really in
charge of this. Engineer Suansing is an NGO helping us understand
the situation. But its really the SOCO who did the investigation, if Im
not mistaken.
So now is the SOCO present here today? Bigyan mo kami ng
liwanag po, sir, kung ano ba talaga ang inyong natunton tungkol dito
sa aksidenteng ito? Ilang taon po iyong driver na namatay? At ano po
ang kanyang karanasan sa pagmamaneho?
60
MR. APLASCA. Madam Chair, Your Honors, good morning po.
I have here a copy of the SOCO report but, unfortunately, there
is no indication on the condition of the driver during the accident.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). But how old is the driver
when he passed?
MR. APLASCA. Right now, Your Honor, we dont have the data
here.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ano ba naman iyan?
MR. APLASCA. In fact, we have requested, actually, LTO, Your
Honor, on the history of the application of licenses of the driver.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). I think thats a vital factor
that you should have looked into. Hindi porket namayapa na iyong
driver ay hindi na natin matatanong so balewala na. Mayroong
tumataas ng kamay diyan. Mayroon po kayong madadagdag?
Please identify yourself, sir, I cant see your nameplate.
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Yes, good morning, Your Honors.
Im Atty. Bernie Panagsagan, counsel of Panda, Your Honor.
Based on the 201 files of the driver, the driver was born on
January 30, 1979, so he is 38 years old.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). How long has he been
driving? Do you have that information, Attorney?
61
MR. PANAGSAGAN. No, Madam. What we have is his job
experience, Your Honor. He started working as tourist bus driver in
Evacom, seven months; another one month in JTB bus as bus driver;
and from May 30 to July 2016, bus driver of Philtranco, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So in total, he has about
two years experience?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Four years /rjo
62
MR. PANAGSAGAN. ... Four years.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Four years experience.
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Yes, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So there is really no protocol
on how these investigations are to be conducted. I believe that Tanay
police asked for the help of Engineer Suansing to do the investigation.
But who is the overall overseer of the investigation? Its the SOCO,
correct?
MR. APLASCA. Its the PNP, Tanay, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). PNP, Tanay. Are they
present here?
MR. APLASCA. Yes, Your Honor. The investigators in charge
are present today.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). PNP ng Tanay, saan po?
MR. APLASCA. We have the two investigators of the scene,
Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). O sige. Pakisalaysay po
kung ano ang mga natutunan ninyo dito sa inyong imbestigasyon? Or
did they submit that to you, sir? Would you like to enumerate them?
Pakinggan po natin sila.
You know, they are PNP officers; however, they dont really have
the specific expertise to investigate vehicular accidents. In which case,
63
if that is the situation, who are they supposed to call? Is it the LTO?
Is it the LTFRB? I mean, we cant just rely on an NGO. Noong kayo po
iyong nag-iimbestiga, mayroon po ba kayo sa inyong regulasyon kung
sino ang dapat ninyong tawagin kapag mayroong aksidenteng ganyan?
MR. DONES. Good morning, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Bale, maam, pagka ganyan,
may mga first responder po na tinatawag kami, kung sino po iyong
unang tawagan noong concerned na nakakita doon sa insidente. Bale,
noon pong nangyari iyong insidente, mayroong nagpuntang concerned
citizen na naka-motor malapit doon sa pinangyarihan, iyong kung
tawagin namin PCP, Sampaloc. May investigator po kami doon, si PO2
Sevillena.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Mayroon na po ba kayong
na-submit na report tungkol dito sa imbestigasyon ninyo?
MR. DONES. Bale, maam, mayroon po kaming ginawang
special written report.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). At kanino ninyo po ito
isinumite ito?
MR. DONES. Bale, maam, ipinasama po namin sa headquarters
namin. At saka, maam, may humingi din po, NBI.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). NBI?
MR. DONES. Yes, maam.
64
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So kalat-kalat talaga.
Makikita mo sa mga ganitong uring aksidente, pasa-pasahan ng mga
jurisdictionmay NBI, may SOCO. Ang LTO-LTFRB kailangan tawagan
para makakuha ng impormasyon. Walang nagko-coordinate na iisang
ahensya lamang. Kaya iyon ang paksa ng ating pagdinig ngayon, na
magkaroon ng national transport safety board. Siguro naman lahat
tayo dito ay sang-ayon dito na magkaroon ng ganoon.
Gusto ko rin sigurong tanungin, kasi nabanggit ni Ms. Elvieof
course, theres the psychological conditions of the driver, maaaring
may problema siya sa bahay o kung anu-ano pang kadahilanan. Pero
tama rin iyong sinabi niya na, akotayong lahat naging estudyante
tayo minsan sa buhay natin, nakita natin kung gaano ka-excited tayo
pag nag-field trip, na nagkakagulo, nagsisigawan, nagkakantahan sa
loob ng bus. Okay lang naman iyon. Ang sinasabi ko lamangsiguro
patanong na rin dito sa Bestlinkmay mga nagsasabing may
alegasyon nga na wala man lamang daw person of authorityguro o
school officialna kasama nila sa bus.
Siguro tanungin muna natin ang mga nanay dito at saka iyong
tatay, kamag-anak ng mga naging biktima dito.
Unang-una po, Ms. Nenita, kamusta na po ang inyong anak?
MS. RAGUA. Magandang umaga po sa mga kinauukulan.
65
Totoo po na walang teacher ang bus na Panda. Pinaubaya lang
po sa kapwa estudyante nila ang pag-iintindi sa loob ng bus na iyon,
totoo po.
May trauma pa po iyong anak ko. Sa ngayon, nandito po
kasama si Arriz Ragua. Gustung-gusto na nga pong pumasok, pero
kagabi, sa totoo lang, sumisigaw siya kasi tatlong estudyante, iyong
classmate niya, tinulungan niya sa pangyayaring iyon. Totoo po iyon.
Sana po maging aral ito sa mga eskwelahan na naggaganyan
sila, na i-guide nila iyong pagpupunta nila sa tour na iyan. Totoo po,
Madam Grace Poe, sa nangyari at hindi rin katanggap-tanggap kahit
survivor ang mga anak namin. Sa mga nawalan po ng anak, hindi
katanggap-tanggap iyong nangyari sa amin sa bus na iyon at saka
iyong sa ano ng Bestlink na iyon na wala man lang teacher. Iyon nga
po napaaral namin iyong mga anak namin sa maayos na wala po
kaming iintindihin na tuition po. Maayos naman po ang pagtatanggap
ninyo sa mga anak namin, pero iyong pangyayaring iyon, sa panahon
ngayon, parang pinatay na rin iyong mga anak namin na nagkaroon
ng trauma. Halos napapanaginipan niya iyan po iyong pinanood na
iyan. Siguro po ang anak ko hindi mapakali, totoo po, maski ako man
po. Kasi ako ang kauna-unahang dumating sa Morong Hospital.
Nasaksihan ko po kung paano dumaing ang mga bata at kung papaano
binaba sa ambulansya at saka iyong mga batang nawalan ng buhay na
66
isinantabi lang. Pasalamat lang po ako sa Morong Hospital at
napakababait nilang tumulong sa mga batang estudyante, ganoon din
po sa mga sundalo. Pero hindi po katuwa-tuwang nakita ko at
nasaksihan ang mga daing ng mga batang estudyante sa nangyari
pong iyon.
Iyon lang po, Maam Grace. Salamat po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Mormon Hospital?
MS. RAGUA. Opo, sa Morong Hospital.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Morong.
MS. RAGUA. At saka sa Amang Rodriguez. Iyon pong mga
critical, dinala sa Amang Rodriquez kasi kulang ang mga gamit sa
Morong at saka marami na sila. Iyong anak ko nga po, noong datnan
ko sa Morong, naka-oxygen po. Inilabas ko po para mapadali ang ano
ng dibdib niya kasi puro dugo iyong damit ng anak ko sa pagbuhat ng
mga classmate niya. At saka talaga po iyong dugokahit ikunukwento
ko hindi po ako sinungalingpinagupit ko po doon sa pinag-X-ray
namin na ospital, nilabas ko kaagad iyong anak ko para hindi na kami
pumila doon sa mga critical doon sa ini-x-ray. Kami nga po ang kauna-
unahang naanuhan ng media, natanungan noong nandodoon sa
Morong kasi ako ang kauna-unahan na dumating na nanay. Kasi
noong 4:30, nakakausap ko pa iyong anak ko. Noong mag-aalas-otso,
nag-aalala na ako na hindi tumatawag ang anak ko. Iyon pala, isa na
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po doon sa bus na Panda, naaksidente sila. Noong tumawag ang anak
konanghiram na lang po ng cell phone kay Dr. Dalisay, Mama,
kasama po ako sa bus na iyon. Iyon na nga po. Sabi ko, Anak,
behave ka. Umupo ka, magdasal ka. Pero iyong nakita ko po sa
Morong Hospital, hindi katanggap-tanggap. Totoo po iyon, maam.
CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Oo, siyempre, naniniwala talaga
tayo sa mga sinasabi at nagpapasalamat na nalilinawan ninyo. Ang
sakit lang naman at ang sugat ay hindi pisikal. Habang buhay na iyan
maiisip ng anak ninyo. Masasabi natin mapalad na nabuhay. Pero
kahit papaano, may pagsisisi rin dahil may mga kasamahan siyang
hindi na nasalba.
Kayo naman po, sir, ano po angKumusta naman po ang inyong
anak?
MR. LITERAL. Magandang umaga po, Madam Chair.
Hindi ko na po sinama iyong anak ko kasi pumasok siya ngayon
sa school. Sabi ko, Ako na lang kasi kailangan niyang mag-report
para maka-- Magaling naman na ho siya, naano na namin. Kaya sabi
ko, huwag na lang siya sumama, kami na lang.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay naman po iyon. Pero
mayroon pa bang isang pamilya ng biktima dito?
MR. LITERAL. Iyon pong buntis.
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THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ikaw ba mismo iyong
biktima doon?
MS. SALATAN. Bale ako po iyong kinakasama noong isang
biktima. Hanggang ngayon po, nasa hospital pa po siya.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Iyong isang biktima,
nabalian ba siya? Ano iyong kanyang mga natamo?
MS. SALATAN. Isa po kasi siya mga critical na galing ng
Morong na dinala sa may Amang Rodriguez.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pero ngayon naman ay nasa
ICU pa rin ba?
MS. SALATAN. Bale kalalabas lang po ng ng ICU last week.
Inoperahan po siya two times last week, Thursday; tapos, kagabi po.
Tapos, mayroong pa po siyang tatlong operation na pagdadaanan.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kayo naman ba ay
nakakatanggap ng tulong mula sa Bestlink o sa kahit kanino para sa
gastusin ninyo sa pagpapagamot?
MS. SALATAN. Iyong sa medication, sa operation, tapos sa
hospital po, bale yong Panda coach, sila lang po iyong tumutulong sa
amin talaga. Bale iyong Bestlink po tumulong sila, isang beses lang
po last week. Nagbigay sila ng 10,000 sa amin. Iyon lang po iyong
pinakatulong nila ... /jmb
69
MS. SALATAN. Iyon lang po iyong pinakatulong nila since
nung accident.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kayo po, magkano po iyong
natanggap ninyo mula sa Bestlink?
MS. RAGUA. Ano po, bale nung isang araw po pumunta po
kami sa Bestlink, nagbigay po siya sa amin ng 5,000 tapos ini-refund
po iyong sa ano na 2,250. Tapos po iyong sa x-ray po na ginawa po
namin doon sa Morong actual na 1,820, iyon lang po. Pati po sa
Panda binigyan din po kami ng 20,000 na medical assistance po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Alam ninyo, talagang kung
iisipin ninyo napakaliit, ano, doon sa mga pinagdaanan ninyo.
Siguro gusto ko rin marinig iyong anak po ninyo, Ms. Nenita.
MS. RAGUA. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kasi gusto kong malaman
kung ano ba talaga iyongkung handa siya. Kung hindi naman ay
baka naman
Anong pangalan mo?
MR. RAGUA. Irriz Ragua po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Mr. Ragua, di nag-field trip
kayo, ano? Ang dinig ko iyong mga ibang mga guro nauna na doon.
Nauna na doon sa pagpupuntahan ninyo.
MR. RAGUA. Opo.

70
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kayo ba ay walang mas
nakakatandang nagbabantay sa inyo doon sa bus maliban sa driver?
MR. RAGUA. Mayroon po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sino?
MR. RAGUA. Iyong mayor po namin.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Mayor?
MR. RAGUA. Opo. Iyong para pong class president po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Class president. Pero walang
school official?
MR. RAGUA. Mayroon din po, iyong governor po namin, iyong
under po ng mga class president po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pero ibig sabihin, estudyante
rin iyon?
MR. RAGUA. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So, walang nakakatanda.
Totoo ba na sa bus, doon sa gitna ng bus, may mga nakaupo na
sahig?
MR. RAGUA. Mayroon na po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kasi punung-puno na iyong
bus mismo?
MR. RAGUA. Bus po? Iyong bus po kasi, anoiyong bus na
iyon dalawahan lang po iyong upuan. Mayroon sa gitna. Ibig sabihin,

71
may dalawahan sa gilid, kaliwa, kanan. So, ang nangyari po naging
tatluhan po iyong iba.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So, iyong iba habang kayo
ay naglalakbay, nakaupo na mismo doon sa daanan?
MR. RAGUA. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sa sahig?
MR. RAGUA. Ay, wala pong nakaupo sa may sahig, sa may
gitna lang po. May upuan din ho sa gitna.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ah, parang iyong folding
chair?
MR. RAGUA. Opo, folding ho.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ah, okay.
So, lahat naman ay may silya, sa iyong pagkakatanda?
MR. RAGUA. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. Kung makakayanan
mo lang, ano, ikuwento na lang ninyo kung kailan mo unang
naramdaman na may problema doon sa bus.
MR. RAGUA. Iyong pag-akyat po namin nggaling po kami sa
Cogeo po. Pag-akyat po namin ng bundok, iyong time na iyon
nangangamoy na po iyong loob ng bus. Tapos nung nasa ano na po
kami, siguro malapit na po sa may Sampaloc, hinubad ko po iyong
isang sapatos ko pati iyong medyas ko, tinapakan ko po iyong sahig

72
sobrang init na po talaga, as in mapapaso na po ako noon. Sabay
iyong dalawang paa ko po inangat ko na lang po, pinatong ko na lang
sa may upuan kasi mapapaso po iyongmasisira po iyong sapatos ko.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Oo, kasi alam mo, Engineer,
ano, nakita natin na iyong umpisa nga sinasabi natin baka hindi
naman talaga sa preno lang ang problema, hindi ba, parang ganoon?
MR. SUANSING. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pero ano kaya ang maaaring
nagiging dahilan na ganoon kainit? May nakita ba kayo sa inyong
pagsusuri ng bus, ng makina na maaaring magturo bakit nagiging
ganoon?
MR. SUANSING. Wala naman po. Ang possibility na nag-init
iyon is iyong nanikit iyong preno. Iyon po iyon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So, may posibilidad talaga
na preno rin?
MR. SUANSING. Opo, nanikit iyong preno.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Aside from the driver error.
MR. SUANSING. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). O sige.
So, sa ngayon naman, sinasabi ng mommy mo, ano, na
siyempre minsan hindi ka makatulog, iniisip mo iyong mga nakasama
mo. Iyong katabi mo ba ay nabuhay?

73
MR. RAGUA. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Mayroon ka bang counseling
na ino-offer iyong paaralan mo? Mayroon bang mga counselor na
kinakausap ka, mga psychologists?
MR. RAGUA. Wala po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Wala. Walang counseling.
MR. RAGUA. Wala pa po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Bestlink, sino po iyong
inyong kinatawan dito?
Maam, magandang tanghali po.
Dr. Maria, hindi ba iyon iyong una ninyong dapat pinagtutuunan
ng pansin na mayroong counselor na kumakausap, nagti-therapy sa
mga bata?
MS. VICENTE. Yes, Your Honor. Mayroon na kaming ino-
organize na mga ano, iyong sa aming guidance counselor
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ino-organize pa lang po?
Wala pa talagang kumaka
MS. VICENTE. Pinapapunta, dine-deploy na namin sila, iniisa-
isa. Pinapaano sa mga bahay-bahay nila.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Nadidinig ko dito iyong mga
sinasabi wala naman, ano. Pero, alam ninyo, siyempre kailangan ng
expertise talaga para magbigay ng counseling. Pero wala man lang ba

74
na kinatawan ng paaralan na pupunta sa mga bahay nila? Halimbawa,
mga teachers man lang na pinupuntahan ang mga biktima.
Sa inyo ba may nagpunta na?
MR. RAGUA. Wala pa po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ano pong nagiging
problema, Bestlink, bakit ganyan?
MS. VICENTE. Yes, pinagtatawagan namin sila lahat. Kinukuha
namin iyong mga ano nila at mayroon na kaming mga teachers namin
at saka iyong mga heads, pinapapunta namin sa kanila. Baka sila
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Gaano na ba katagal ito?
Mag-iisang buwan na, hanggang ngayon hindi pa napupuntahan?
MS. VICENTE. Napuntahan na sila. Nag-report na sa amin
iyong mga ano. Baka on their case, baka sila pa ang hindi na-meet.
Pero ang alam ko pinapapuntahan na namin sila. Marami kaming mga
teachers at saka heads. Binabahay-bahay sila.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Oo, pero iyong mga nandito
hindi sila napupuntahan. Ngayon, ilan po ang estudyante ninyo sa
kabuuan?
MS. VICENTE. Sa kabuuan, we have 18,000.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). That is a big school, 18,000.
MS. VICENTE. Yes.
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THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). How many faculty members
do you have?
MS. VICENTE. We have 400.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Four hundred. In total, how
many employees do you have in your school?
MS. VICENTE. That is the total.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Four hundred employees,
teachers and administrative staff.
MS. VICENTE. Yes.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sa 400 na iyon, hindi
naman siguro makakasakit sa inyo na magpatutok ng singkuwenta
man lang para tingnan itong mga estudyante ninyo, hindi ba?
Pero alam mo, narinig ko rin, ano, kay Ms. Nenita na nagbibigay
ng scholarships ito, scholarship sa mga bata. Hindi kayo nagbabayad
ng tuition?
MS. RAGUA. Sa unang pasok po talaga, nasasabi nila na
walang tuition. Pero kada-exam po, talagang majority na nagbabayad
at saka iyong mga miscellaneous po kagaya iyong mga activities po
nila, nagkakaroon po kami ng bayarin sa kanila. Kagaya po iyong mga
palabas sa mga foundation, ganyan po.
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THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Magkano po sa isang taon
iyong mga miscellaneous, iyong mga exam fees ang nababayad ninyo
sa Bestlink?
MS. RAGUA. Bale pumapatak po ng 11,000 po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Eleven thousand sa isang
taon, hindi semester, huh?
MS. RAGUA. Five thousand po, maam. Kasi hindi lang kasi sa
2,5005,000 po, maam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sa isang taon?
MS. RAGUA. Opo. Semester po pala, maam. Pasensiya na po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ah, semester. So, tama ka.
Kung five per semester, mga siguro 10 to 11 nga iyan per year.
MS. RAGUA. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sa Bestlink, mayroon ba
kayong government funding na nakukuha para ma-supplement iyong
scholarships ninyo?
MS. VICENTE. Ang Bestlink ang kinokolekta lang ay iyong
miscellaneous lang, 4,975.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So, sino ang tumataguyod
ng inyong institusyon? Saan ninyo nakukuha ang pera ninyo.
Mayroon ba kayong funding from government agencies? ... /hsg
77
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). government agencies?
MS. VICENTE. We have none. For my other businessbecause
I am also the business partner of Avon. We have foundation.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So foundation po iyong
school ninyo?
MS. VICENTE. Yes.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay.
Ito nga iyong nakakalungkot. Sa nakikita ko, may kakulangan
talaga iyong paaralan sapagkat, unang-una, hindi man lang nagpadala
ng isang guro na kasama ng mga estudyante. Pero may kakulangan
din ang mismong tour group.
MS. VICENTE. Yes, Madam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kasi kumuha din sila ng bus
na, sabihin natin, hindi naman maayos, hindi ba? Kasi 1988 ang
talagang naging registration noon, iyong manufacturing date. So ang
daming may kasalanan dito. Pati na rin iyong investigating body,
bagamat hindi natin masisisi naman ang pulis sa Tanay dahil nga
kulang ang kanilang expertise, talagang makikita natin na kailangan
ang isang grupo na talagang tututok sa mga ganitong uri ng aksidente.
Mabalik tayo sa LTO. Kasi kung ang chassis at saka iyong
makina magkaiba, papaano ninyo dinedetermina, halimbawa, ang
78
tunay na edad ng isang sasakyan? Doon lang ba sa isinusumite sa
inyong papel, registration, or tinitingnan ninyo mismo ang makina?
MR. GALVANTE. Sa present na pamantayan po, iyong oldest
part na major part ng sasakyan, iyan po ang pinagbabasehan ng edad
noong kabuuan noong sasakyan.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ano po iyon?
MR. GALVANTE. Oldest part. Kung ano po ang pinakalumang
part
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Oldest part.
MR. GALVANTE. major part ang pinagbabasehan ho ng age
noong sasakyan.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So, nakita ninyo na
iyong oldest part nitong sasakyan ay iyong chassis. But it took you
kinailangan niyong tawagan pa iyong Hino counterpart sa Japan para
makuha ito. Tama po ba?
MR. SUANSING. Opo. Kasi po, as Ive said kanina, iyon pong
bus na iyan, after na ginamit iyan sa, lets say, Japan, ini-export nila
iyan. So nakarating dito sa Pilipinas, buo. Maaaring ang nangyari
diyan, pinalitan iyong makina, which is not unusual naman.
Nangyayari po iyon na pinapalitan iyong makina. Pero iyong chassis
niya is retained. Under sa batas po natin, pag pinalitan mo iyong
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makina, iyon pa rin ang classification ng sasakyan na iyan. Pag
pinalitan mo iyong chassis, then nagiging rebuilt na iyan.
Ipaliwanag ko lang po sa inyo nang kaunti. Iyon hong 15-year
rule na nag-umpisa noong panahon pa ni Secretary Lagdameo
matagal na ho iyon, FVR pa ho iyonsinabi na namin sa kanilanasa
private sector pa po ako noonna manganganak ng problema iyan.
Kasi maraming mga bus operator na maparaan, nauso iyong pukpok
na tinatawag. So to circumvent the 15-year rule, iyong makina
papalitan, iyong chassis, chassis number lang ang papalitan. Then
maire-register iyan ulit sa LTO as rebuilt, as if bago. So iyong ganoong
practice, nanatili ho iyon kasi nga iniikutan iyongAng sinasabi namin,
ang pinakamaayos na paraan is tsekin (check) niyo iyong
roadworthiness ng sasakyan. So kahit na abutin pa ng singkuwenta
anyos iyan, kung maayos iyong sasakyan, tatakbo iyan nang maayos,
matino. But ang problema at that time, wala ngang MVIS noong
panahon nimayroon. Mayroon silang pinrokyur (procure) na MVIS at
that time. Mayroon pa nga hong isang set ng MVIS na hindi nagamit.
Nabulok lang. Nandoon sa Cagayan de Oro iyon. Tapos noong time
namin, binuo namin iyong MVIS para nga pantapat doon sa
roadworthiness na iyan.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sige.
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So, nakita natin lahat itong mga problema. Ang dami natin
puwedeng gawin na kailangan ay matutukan nga sa susunod na
budget or kung ano pa man.
Pero habang nandito na rin tayo sa paksa na ito, ang CHED
nandito, ang unang nagkaroon ng moratorium on field trips. Gusto
nating malaman ngayonkasi sabi ninyo, habang bumubuo kayo ng
guidelines--although ito mas concern ng Committee on Education--
habang nandito na tayo ngayon, gusto natin malaman ano na bang
update, may moratorium pa ba. Ang anak ko may field trip. Mayroon
na ba kayong nilabas na guidelines?
MS. ASINGJO. Magandang umaga po sa lahat. Magandang
umaga po, Your Honor.
Ang CHED po ay nag-issue ng moratorium at it is still existing
hanggang hindi pa namin na-revise, na-review iyong guidelines, that is
CMO 17 of 2012. Nagkaroon po ng TWG. We constituted a TWG which
is interagency at nire-review po iyong aming guidelines. And hopefully,
magkakaroon kami ng public consultation sa April 20 at ilalabas ito ng
May. At magkakaroon po ng orientation na kung saan lahat po ng
stakeholders will be invited for the orientation. So with this, iyong mga
sharings po dito ay i-incorporate po namin. Titingnan namin kung ano
pa ang gagawin para ma-enhance iyong present guidelines namin.
81
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So para lang
malinawan, by May, mayroon na kayong rekomendasyon.
MS. ASINGJO. Opo, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Para magkaroon na ng
orientation.
Kasi nga iyon ang nagiging problema sa atin. Pag mayroong
riding-in-tandem, ipagbawal na iyong dalawa sa motorsiklo. Parang
hindi mo naman talaga binubungkal pati iyong ugat ng problema. So
dapat talaga gawing bawal na ang field trip. Alam naman natin na pag
hindi naman maluho ang field trip at mayroon talagang katuturan,
hindi lang iyong parang team building na mag-iinuman lang doon,
kailangan talaga ng exposure ng mga bata. Kaya lang, siguro sa
panahon nga ngayon, wala kayong magagawa kung hindi suspendihin
talaga hanggat hindi malinaw. Katulad niyan, ang isa na ilalagay
ninyo doon, there should be a person of authority, school administrator
or a faculty member who is versed with protocols as well as first aid.
Iyong mga ganoon na dapat kasama nila sa sasakyan. Kasi
maglalagay nga kayo ng teacher doon, kung hindi naman marunong
ng first aid, hindi ba? O kaya iyong teacher tapikin lang ng
estudyante, matutumba na. Ibig sabihin, iyon talagang sanay sa pag-
handle ng mga ganitong uri ng lakad. So isama po ninyo diyan,
82
certification ng Red Cross sa first aid, maaaring puwedeng isama diyan
as a requirement ng CHED.
This is about the creation nga of the National Transport Safety
Board which includes air, land and sea. Of course, with the permission
also of my co-chair, siguro tanungin din natin, kasi iyong sea accident,
marami rin talaga iyan. Gusto kong malamanalam mo, may mga fast
craft accidents kahit sa Cebusino iyong tagapamahala ng
imbestigasyon nito? Ilan na ang natatalang mga nagiging problema?
And as of the last maritime tragedy na malaki, ano na ang nangyari sa
mga biktima, iyong pamilya ng biktima? Sino ba dito iyong
representative doon sa maritime?
MARINA po, Engineer Reyes. Iyong tanong ko, any update on
your efforts for maritime safety. Kung may imbestigasyon, ano ba
iyongnarinig ba ninyo na last February mayroong aksidente din sa
Cebu?
MR. REYES. Madam Chair, bale ang Philippine Coast Guard po
ang nag-iimbestiga noon sa maritime accident. Although MARINA,
mayroon din silang ginagawang investigation.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). May Philippine Coast Guard
ba dito?
MR. SUANSING. Maam /alicc
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MR. SUANSING. Maam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Engineer.
MR. SUANSING. Regarding accidents at sea, normally a board
of marine inquiry is formed para mag
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Who forms? Who appoints
the BOI?
MR. SUANSING. The Coast Guard iyon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Coast Guard. Okay.
So ano po iyong mga reports ninyo ngayon of latest accidents,
wala?
MR. REYES. Madam Chair, kasi actually Im from the Maritime
Safety Service and other officer conducting investigations so I dont
have ano po, update.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Data.
MR. REYES. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So we can see
already the incompetence of our system. Im not blaming any
particular department, its just that were so incoherent about whos
supposed to manage things like these, about data, etcetera.
How about for air? Usec Robert Lim, CAAP ba?
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MR. LIM. Ah, yes, Your Honor. That would be the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines. There is an Aircraft Accident Investigation
Board, they are manned by the personnel of CAAP, and they do
investigations involving aircraft accident.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Are you a member of that
board?
MR. LIM. No, Your Honor. Its a purely CAAP investigation
board.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay.
SEN. EJERCITO. Madam Chair, Id like to ask from Usec Lim.
CAAP is the regulating body, ano, for all commercial, anything,
anything about aviation. So would it be better to haveHindi ba mas
maganda ho siguro na there will be an independent body like the
NTSB?
MR. LIM. Yes, Your Honor. We would support legislation that
creates the NTSB, it is an independent body. In preparation for that,
what we have done is to take administrative steps to transfer this unit
in CAAP and create an office in the Department of Transportation. We
are proposing an executive order for the signature of the President, to
create an aircraft accident investigation board so that it will be
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separate from that body that regulates aviation. This is in preparation
for the pending bills that are now with the Senate and with Congress.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Usec, iyong CAAP, hindi ba,
in charge din ba siya sa mga air traffic control?
MR. LIM. Yes, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So kung, lets say,
problema ng air traffic control because of their negligence, and it has
to be investigated, it would still be CAAP investigating its own, correct?
MR. LIM. Yes, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So, again, it
underscores the need for an independent body.
Before Atty. Aguilar, I think Mr. Zuniga of safety organization
would like to give a comment.
MR. ZUNIGA. A good morning, Your Honor.
The Safety Organization of the Philippines is involved in all
aspects of safety, from the road, to the air, to the sea.
Mabalikan ko lang po iyon muna doon sa land kanina po, gusto
ko lang pong malaman kung ang Samelink(?) school ay mayroon pong
safety officer na nakatalaga, kasi isa po iyon sa requirement ng batas
na bawat establishment ay mayroong safety officer depende po sa
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kategorya kung siya po ay hazardous, highly hazardous or less
hazardous.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So sinasabi mo overall
safety officer of the school?
MR. ZUNIGA. Yes po. Kailangan po may appointed sila, subject
po sa dami ng kanilang empleyado at kung ano po ang kategorya ng
kanilang establishment. Schools are categorized as hazardous
establishment, so they must appoint a safety officer according to their
number. Ang alam ko sila ay 400 daw na ano, but they are handling
about 18,000 students. So siguro dapat may safety officer sila na ang
pinakamababa ay dalawa.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). O sige, Bestlink.
MR. ZUNIGA. Ito pong safety officerGusto ko lang pong
idiretso. Ito pong safety officer dapat doon sa kanilang educational
tour, siya po ang nagde-determine kung ano po iyong lugar na
pupuntahan, kung ano po iyong mga hazards doon, pati po sa way na
papunta po doon sa lugar ng educational tour. Sana naiwasan po.
At iyon pong isa rin po, iyon pong sa Panda, dapat mayroon din
silang safety officer to determine po kung ano po iyong mga
pupuntahan nilang mga lugar. So naiwasan po sana iyon. At sana po
iyong school, bawat bus ay mayroon pong incharge na head teacher.
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Siya po ang nag-aano doon saFor example, siya po ang nag-a-
account kung ilan po ang mga estudyante sa loob ng bus, siya rin po
ang nag-aano, determine pagbalik kung iyan ay kumpleto o hindi.
Iyon po dapat ang kanilang inuuna.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Thank you for calling our
attention to that.
MR. ZUNIGA. Okay.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). After hearing from Bestlink
and also Atty. Peter Aguilar, I would like to hear from the Panda
operators or representative about the state of your vehicles.
But lets go now to Bestlink. Mayroon ba kayong safety
compliance officer?
MS. VICENTE. Yes, Your Honor. Actually, we have two safety
officers by the name of Jeff Cario and Johnny Miguel.
If I may share, Your Honor, please, what has happened. Iyong
ikukuwento ko lang kung bakit nangyari iyon. Kasi iyong Haranah ang
nire-rent namin na tour bus, and then nakasakay na iyong mga
estudyante sa bus, lahat sila sa Haranah, and all of a sudden
mayroong nagsabi na nire-recall iyong Haranah bus, pina-transfer
doon sa Panda bus iyong mga bata. Lahat ng bata pina-transfer, and
all of a sudden lumabas sila nanakaalis sila agad, kasi may mga
88
coordinator ako during that day to man that trip, which is iyongThat
was not a field trip, but a leadership training sa Tanay for three days
and two nights. So there was a sudden change so parang na-rattle
iyong ano, at saka umalis sila agad na hindi pa naka-ano iyong nagma-
manage ng ano, trip na iyon. Sudden change of ano na nakasakay na
sa Haranah bus, sudden change of ano pinalipat agad.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. Haranah. Haranah,
nandito po ba kayo? Bakit ninyo pinalipat iyong mga bata?
MR. TAN. Magandang araw po, Chair at Senator Joseph Ejercito.
Ganito po iyon, sampung bus po ako ang pinadala ko. Dahil po
sa kanilang sudden change, sila po ang nagpauwi ng bus namin dahil
siyam lang daw po ang kanilang kailangan. At itong kanilang activity
ay hindi po field trip, sila po ang nag-arrange at wala po kaming
partisipasyon sa anumang activity po nila. Ang sa amin lang po ay
nagrenta po sila ng bus.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Teka muna. So ikaw iyong
Haranah?
MR. TAN. Opo. Ako po iyong sa Haranah po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So kumuha sila ng
siyam na bus sa inyo.
MR. TAN. Opo.
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THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ngayon iyong Panda pang
sampu iyon?
MR. TAN. Kasama na po iyong Panda doon sa siyam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ah, kasi
MR. TAN. Sampu po lahat iyon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kaya langSo sampung
bus, siyam ang may-ari kayo.
MR. TAN. Sampung bus po iyon. Pitong bus po sa akin, tatlong
bus po sa Panda. Tapos po iyong isa po na bus po namin dahil siyam
lang po ang kailangan nila, pinauwi po nila iyong bus namin. Sila lang
po, tao lang po nila ang nandoon po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So sila ang
nagpauwi. Ngayon so bale siyam na bus lang ang ginamit nila?
MR. TAN. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So bakit kayo kumuha? Pito
iyong bus ninyo ano, na sa inyo, bakit kayo kumuha sa panda?
MR. TAN. Unang-una po, dito po sa industriya po ng turismo,
pagka kami pong mga accredited tourist bus company, kami po ay
minsan kinakapos ng mga bus so ang ginagawa po namin kami po ay
kumukuha ng tulong sa kapwa namin pong tourist bus company to
augment po iyong kakulangan po namin. Since po ang Panda po ay
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accredited na tourist bus, kami po ay naniniwala na ang kanyang
kumpanya po ay kwalipikado dahil nabigyan po ng prangkisa at
lisensya upang magsakay ng pasahero. Dumaan din po ito sa proseso
ng inspeksyon na isinagawa ng LTO at LTFRB /cbg
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BRHGonzales VI-2 March 14, 2017 12:08 p.m. 1
MR. TAN. LTO at LTFRB.
Nais ko din pong idagdag na ang travel agency po na bus ay
DOT-accredited na company na nagparenta sa amin.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Siyempre pag ikaw ay isang
customer o isang organisasyon na kapareho noong isa ay may
complete trust ka na siguro naman ginagawa nila ang kanilang
trabaho.
MR. TAN. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So dito sa Panda, Atty.
Bernie, kanina, nagsalita na kayo tungkol sa edad ng driver at sa
kanyang possible track record. Iyong mga bus ninyo, do you know
when the last inspection was done on this particular bus?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Your Honors, ito pong particular bus under
Case No. 2016-5372, this bus franchise was acquired by Panda from a
previous operator, Sitio Lucia Hotel and Resort Corporation. And the
unit concerned, Your Honor, based on the record, per LTO is 2004
model. So we merely relied on the documents presented to us. We just
purchased the bus and the franchise was transferred to Panda last July
7, 2016, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. LTO, sir, ano ba
iyong proseso? Para maliwanag din sa ating mga kababayan, kung
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ikaw bus operator, every how many years kailangan mong nire-
register iyong iyong bus?
MR. GALVANTE. Im sorry, Your Honor, I dont mean to
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). No, no, go ahead.
MR. GALVANTE. Ang problema po, iyong sa amin ay for the
registration. Pero iyong maintenance po ng bus ay responsibility po
iyon ng may-ari at ng operator. Kaya sana po, huwag silang, you
know, mag-cut down on this kind of responsibility na dapat po sila
talaga ang nagpapatupad. Sa amin po, iyong requirement for the
registration, opo, gagawin po namin iyon, ii-improve po namin. Pero
iyong day to day operation nila, sila na po ang kailangang magpatupad
noong maintenance procedure nila.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Tama po. Pero nire-recall
po ba iyong mga buses na ito for check-up?
MR. GALVANTE. Hindi po, unless
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So hindi nga. Once lang ito
anoonce for the
MR. GALVANTE. Yes, Your Honor, doon lang po sa
pagpaparehistro nila.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sa registration.
LTFRB, nagtataas kayo ng kamay.
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MR. DELGRA. Your Honors, I have to make a reaction because
Panda Tours is not forthright before this Committee.
Indeed the Panda bus that figured in the accident was bought
from another company. I dont know how it sounds like but when we
checked on the records of the vendor, which was a previous bus
operator or a previous tourist bus operator for that matter, and Panda
Bus Tours who bought the unit have interlocking ownerships,
interlocking directors. Kaiba lang iyong pangalan noong kumpanya
pero pare-pareho lang ang may-ari. And thats the reason why, when
we found out that during the first hearing, we have toinitially, the
PSO (Preventive Suspension Order) covers only the number of units
something like six units. Under that franchise, the board was
compelled to preventively suspend the entire 17 units of Panda Tours
because of that.
In addition to what we have discovered na iyong financial
requirement to operate a tourist bus, public utility operation, medyo
mababa because we noticed that the asset in their financial statement
is 2.6 or P2.6 million iyong total assets nila and supposedly, they have
17 units. So palagay na lang natin, wala na silang ibang assets, iyon
na lang unit na iyon, ang kinalalabasan ho, lalabas na iyong per unit
nila is less than P150,000 iyong bus.
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THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). What will they gain by under-
declaring their assets?
MR. DELGRA. Well, I dont know what they will gain. Probably,
theyre trying to, you know, address some tax obligation dito.
But insofar as LTFRB is concerned, we need to ascertain that any
operator who would secure a franchise should be financially capable to
operate one.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). You know what? It has
come to my attention that there are conflicting statements. So we
need to ask all our resource persons to please take their oath. This
came belated but I would just like to say that do not take your oath if
anything that youve altered earlier is not the truth. So now that you
are, then you will attest to it being the truth as well.
So the secretariat, please.
THE COMMITTEE SECRETARY (MS. CORDERO). May I
request all the resource persons to please stand up and please raise
your right hand?
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth in this proceeding, including the statements made earlier?
For the record, Madam Chair, all the resource persons affirmed
their oath.
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[The resource persons who took their oath are Mr. Galvante, Mr.
Delgra, Ms. Lontoc, Mr. Lim, Mr. Zuiga, Ms. Asingjo, Mr. Arcilla, Ms.
Vicente, Ms. Pagayatan, Ms. Martirez, Mr. Panagsagan, Mr. Brillantes,
Mr. Tan, Ms. Medina, Mr. Llavor, Mr. San Juan, Mr. Suansing, Mr.
Aguilar, Mr. Reyes, Ms. Malig, Mr. Araullo, Mr. Aplasca, Mr. Villanueva,
Ms. Rodolfo, Mr. Sibal, Ms. Salatan, Ms. Ragua, Mr. Literal, Ms. Ricafort
and Ms. San Luis.]
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Thank you.
So we shall now continue.
Ano po iyong requirement ng LTFRB for you to be qualified to be
a bus operator? Mayroon bang capitalization na kailangan? Magkano
iyong minimum?
MR. DELGRA. Insofar as the minimum requirement is
concerned, there is nothing there as a matter of policy but we just
want to determine na insofar as operating ownership and operation of
the entire public transport service that theyre trying to provide should
be enough to cover. I mean, it should be covered by the assets and
the financial standing that they have. Pero noong nakita nga namin,
talagang may understatement at the very least insofar as the
declaration of assets is concerned, plus the fact that parang inilipat
lang ng isang kumpanya doon sa kabila na pareho lang ang may-ari.
96
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Iyong kumpanya na iyon na
pinanggalingan ng bus, is it still operational?
MR. DELGRA. Whether it is still registered, I would not know
as an operator but the units were already transferred to Panda Bus.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Atty. Bernie, is it still
operational? Whats the name of the company you purchased the bus
from again?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Your Honor, its Sitio Lucia Hotel and
Resort Corporation.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Is it still an existing
company?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Actually, Your Honor, per information from
Panda, they dont have interlocking directors, according to them, Your
Honor. Its only operating as a resort, not as a tourist transport
provider.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). No, no. The operation
might be different but then the board members might be the same.
Are you sure?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Your Honor, in deference to the LTFRB,
during the hearing, we were not confronted with the SEC registration
of Sitio, Your Honor. What we have is only the SEC registration of
97
Panda. According to Panda, its a totally different corporation, Your
Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So youre just relying on
the statements of Panda but you didnt actually see the incorporators
of this Sitio Lucia?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Yes, Your Honor. Because during the
hearing in the LTFRB, Your Honor
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Then dont make an
assertion that its totally different. You say that, Based on what we
know, based on the statements of Panda. But you cannot make that
claim that they are not because you dont know.
MR. PANAGSAGAN. I am sorry, Your Honor. But as we stated,
Your Honor, during the hearing were not confronted with the
documents, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. Then, thats clear
now.
Id like to acknowledge the presence also of Usec Frisco San Juan
of MMDA.
Sir, mayroon po kayong gustong idagdag o kahit mamaya?
O, sige, have your lunch first.
Thank you, sir.
98
Okay. Mayroon bang gustong magsalita dito para magdagdag?
Maam, pakisabi po iyong titulo ninyo at pangalan po.
MS. PAGAYATAN. Yes. Its afternoon already. Good
afternoon, Madam Chair, Madam Senator.
I am the legal counsel of Bestlink. We just want to manifest or
express our strong denial on the statement earlier made by Mr. Tan
that it was the school which sent back the Haranah Bus from where the
students were transferred and made to ride the Panda Bus. The
details of the arrangement would be explained by the vice president for
administration of the school who is here, Mr. Donie Lleno, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Did you take your oath, sir?
MS. PAGAYATAN. Not yet.
MR. LLENO. Not yet, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Not yet? Hindi ka
nakasumpa?
MR. LLENO. Maam, kasi wala po ako noong time naI am not
one of the resource persons.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). O sige, sumumpa ka naman
ngayon.
THE COMMITTEE SECRETARY. Please raise your right hand.
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I, please state your name, do solemnly swear that I will tell
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in this
proceeding.
Thank you.
MR. LLENO. I, Engineer Diosdado Lleno, do solemnly swear
that I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in
this proceeding.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sige po, isalaysay ninyo
brhg
100
MPMENDOZA VII-2 March 14, 2017 12:18 p.m. 1
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sige po, isalaysay ninyo
kung ano ang nalalaman niyo. Although I feel its quite irrelevant.
Kung pinauwi man iyong bus or whatever doesnt change the fact that
an accident happened. And it could be because of the makeup of the
bus itself or the driver or the negligence of the school. It doesnt
change that.
So tell me exactly the relevance of this and what happened,
based on your knowledge?
MR. LLENO. Madam, Your Honor, bale po kasi prior to the
event, kinontak ko po iyong Haranah for the number of buses. So ang
inano lang talaga po namin is nine buses. So napapunta po ako doon
kasi nga may dumating na sampu. Kinontak po ako ng mga
coordinators kasi hindi naman po ako kasama sa trip during that time.
So para i-double check din bakit sampu ang dumating. Kasi pag-
sampu, di sobra po, may additional payment pa ho kami, ganoon po.
So ang sabi ko nga sa mga coordinator, dapat nine buses lang.
At saka pa-check kung iyong mga laman ng mga buses nandudoon na
iyong mga students. So initially po, iyong No. 8 na bus is Haranah bus
posa Haranah bus po sila nakasakay, iyong mga estudyante. And
then during that time po, ang aming NSTP director, si Dr. Jolly Miguel
101
nathat he received a call from theiriyong nakausap niya po iyong
Joseph, iyong supervising Haranah driver.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ano iyong NSTP?
MR. LLENO. National Service Training Program po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So sa NSTP itong
activity?
MR. LLENO. Opo. Siya po iyong director, in charge po noong
activity ng leadership training.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Nasaan na siya ngayon?
Nandito ba siya?
MR. LLENO. Wala po siya rito ngayon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kasi siya dapat iyong
nagsasabi na bawat bus may teacher, hindi ba?
Okay, anyway, go ahead.
MR. LLENO. So noong nakausap niya po si Joseph, iyon nga
pong supervising Haranah driver, na naka-receive siya ng call from
their office na such bus was being recalled to base by management
because it was to be assigned to another destination, iyong bus na po
ng Haranah No. 8. So Ms. Miguel decided to relay to information to
me through my office na nasa across the street. So sabi ko sa kanya
i-double check. Pero pagpunta niya na ho uli doon, wala na po iyong
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Haranah bus and then nasa Panda bus na po iyong mga estudyante.
So ganoon po iyong nangyaring event, maam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Thats bus 8?
MR. LLENO. Opo.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pero you needed nine,
right? So the ninth is really a Panda bus as well?
MR. LLENO. Opo. Actually, pang-sampu siyang dumating,
maam, sa dulo siya, naka-arrange siyanaka-arrange na po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ilan ba iyong PandaOut of
all the buses, you had to take several buses and several trips. How
many Panda buses were used, aside from the one that figured in the
accident?
MR. LLENO. Tatlo po, maam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So tatlong Panda bus?
MR. LLENO. Pangatlo po iyong Panda bus na iyon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. Actually, alam mo, I
dont really see the relevance of this, kung mayroong inatras na isang
bus at nilagay. Because the assumption is whatever bus you supply, it
needs to be safe. And in your case naman, whoever is in charge, if its
an NSTP director, should have been on top of this, should have had a
person of authority in each of those buses.
103
So, anyway, I think were just going through circles here. But at
least if theres anything weve learned here is we really need a national
transport safety board.
Chairman Martin, if its in relation to what theyve stated, Ill call
you next. But we also have a presentation from Atty. San Luis.
So is it related, Chair? Mayroon po kayong comment doon sa
sinabi?
MR. DELGRA. Actually, as a consequence of the accident or any
accident for that matter, because we just want to clarify some issues
and policies regarding insurance claims when there is road accident
like this. But I will defer the manifestation later.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). No, no. I think youre
making a good point here. Alam mo ang problema dito sa mga
insurance natinkaya kumikita din itong mga insurance companies na
itoang tagal-tagal bago makakuha ng claim. Kung anu-ano ang mga
paperwork.
Mayroon ba tayong standard on just the basic paperwork thats
needed. Because, you know what? As we are also trying to decongest
our roads, we cannot possibly leave those obstacles in the middle of
the road. They should be able to take a digital photograph as proof,
for example.
104
So do we have a representative here from the insurance
companies? Wala.
Anyway, thats another matter that we need to tackle. Kasi
talagang back and forth, back and forth sa lahat ng mga requirements
na iyong ibaalthough rightfully they need to claim from the insurance
companies, sasabihin nila, Naku, sakit pa ng ulo ito. Huwag na lang.
Kaya kumikita iyong mga insurance companies.
Maybe the lawyer of the victims, you can explain to usfrom
your understanding, who has the liability hereor liabilities? Who is
responsible?
MR. SIBAL. Magandang hapon potanghali po at sa lahat po ng
nandito.
May liability po ang insurance, iyon pong tinatawag na
compulsory third party liability. Pero, in fact, doon po sa no fault
indemnity, dapat magbibigay na kaagad ng 5,000 sa passenger injured
or pedestrian, ano po? At ang requirement, alam ko, tatlo lang
medical certificate, death certificate at saka iyong affidavit lang at
police report. Pero mababa po iyong 5,000 na iyon for each accident.
Mayroon din pong alituntunin na death indemnity, ano po? Pero
mababa rinmababa rin ang binibigay ng insurance.
105
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Dito po ba sa nangyaring
insidente na ito, nagbigay naman agad iyong insurance nila?
MR. SIBAL. So far ho, wala pang sinasabi sa akin ang mga
kliyente na may lumapit na sa kanilang insurance. Generally po, ay
dapat nandoon na iyong mga insurance adjuster. Sila na ang nauuna
kaagad doon na kinakausap itong mga victims.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Hindi kaya iyong binigay ng
Bestlink namagkano nga, 5,000 ba?
MS. RAGUA. Five thousand po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Bakahindi kaya iyon iyong
galing sa insurance?
MR. SIBAL. Maaari po. Kasi sabi po ng Panda, Haranah at saka
iyong Bestlink ay nagpu-pool daw po sila ng mga fund nila para
pantulong.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pero so far less than 20,000
ang mga nakukuha nila, hindi ba?
MR. SIBAL. Ganoon nga po. Hindi pa po
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So papaano po, Attorney, sa
inyong pagkakaalam sa batas natin, iyong insurance dapat dumiretso
sa mga biktima?
106
MR. SIBAL. Dapat po kasi silaAng intensyon po ng
compulsory third party liability ay para tulungan iyong biktima ng
aksidente. Pero palagay ko po ay sa mahabang panahon, hindi po
natutupad iyong layunin na iyon ng compulsory third party liability
insurance.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Sino po ba iyong insurance
agency dito na pinag-uusapan? Ano ang insurance ng Bestlink at
saka ano ang insurance ng Panda?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. Your Honor, aside from the mandatory
insurance required by the LTFRB, we insured the bus in SCCI, Your
Honor, the consortium who are handling the mandatory insurance
requirement of the public utility vehicle. And also on top of that,
kumuha pa ng another insurance ang Panda sa Paramount. So aside
from 200 mandatory na amount na pwedeng makuha, may additional
50,000 pa po kami from Paramount.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So magkano na iyong
nabigay niyo sa mga biktima?
MR. PANAGSAGAN. As of now, ang naibigay pa lang po sa
kanila is 130 doon po sa fatalities; doon sa injured, hindi pa ho kami
nag-claim sa insurance. Out of Pandas own pocket, 20,000 lang ang
nailabas.
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MS. MARTIREZ. Yes, Your Honor. Ang naitutulong na po
namin sa mga injured from Panda po mismo is 20,000 each. And then
we are open po na lahat ng medical reimbursement nila, inire-refund
naman po namin. Likewise po, ina-assist po namin sila sa hospitals.
SCCI po kasifor the injured, they only have 20,000 but that is for
medical reimbursement, Madam. Without the receipts, they wont
reimburse it. So weve given 20,000.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So Panda is giving 20,000?
MS. MARTIREZ. Yes.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Totoo po ba iyan, natanggap
na ninyo?
MS. RAGUA. Opo, Madam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Twenty thousand. Okay.
Atty. Martin?
MR. DELGRA. The reason why I took it up, the matter on the
insurance coverage, because it was an issue that we have to address
during the last scheduled hearing. As practiced among insurance
companies daw, when you look at indemnity for death or loss of lives,
its 200,000. Under the present policy, its 200,000 per passenger.
But among the documentationsinabi na ni Madam Chair na minsan
ang daming paper works. Ayaw ho namin iyan. In fact, thats the
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reason why hinawakan na namin iyong issue ng insurance, iyong
insurance claims to the victims, to those fatalities and those who were
injured /mpm
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RJOrtiz I-3 March 14, 2017 12:28 p.m. 1
MR. DELGRA. who were injured. Now there was one issue
regarding paper works or documentation requirements. Among which
was, of course, we have the usual requirements of death certificate as
well proof of filiation para alam natin kung sino ang bibigyan nung
200,000 na iyan. But there is another one that caught my attention,
iyong receipt of burial expenses. So I have to strike it down right
away. Sabi ko, Pag insurance coverage for loss of life, do not talk
about expenses or cost for any reimbursement. Kasi bayad iyan,
hindi ngawala ngang kabayaran iyong buhay ng tao. Iyong 200,000
ho, you just have to prove that somebody died and that the one who
will receive is rightfully the one who will receive it. Kung pwede, wala
ng ibang requirement tungkol diyan sa pagbibigay ng insurance
coverage.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Iyong sinasabi po ninyo
200,000 is regardless of other expenses?
MR. DELGRA. Regardless ofhindi ho.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Basta iyon lang, they
automatically are entitled to it?
MR. DELGRA. Because the victims, the families are saying,
kinakaltasan pa raw doon sa ina-advance na mga financial assistance
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na binibigyan ng either Panda, Haranah or even Bestlink. Sabi ko,
Hindi ho pwede iyan. Ibigay lahat doon sa biktima.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So, actually, iyong burial
expenses should be on top pa of the other things that theyof the
liability? So at least alam din ng iba iyon.
Thats subject for another hearing talaga is how insurance
companies conduct theirhow their reimbursement policy is and also
the benefits claim.
Atty. San Luis, please go ahead with your presentation.
MS. SAN LUIS. Good afternoon, Madam Chairperson.
And thank you for allowing us to present to this body today.
If I can--
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Who are you representing?
MS. SAN LUIS. Your Honor, we are Public Policy Advocacy,
NGO, and we conductedAtty. Evita Ricafort and I conducted an
institutional and legal assessment of road safety in the Philippines with
Undersecretary Maria Paz Luna of the DENR when we were still
consultants of the Health Justice. And the assessment that we
conducted was submitted to the World Health Organization.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). How long is this
presentation? How many minutes?
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MS. SAN LUIS. Your Honor, I will just skip through the slides.
Thats about nine slides.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). We will try to adjourn at 1
p.m.
MS. SAN LUIS. Yes, Your Honor. Your Honor, just to update
the data of the body, in 2015if we can skip two slides, please.
Next slide, please. Earlier, Your Honor, you presented the 2015
data on road traffic crashes and fatalities. For 2015, the number of
registered motor vehicles in the Philippines is risingits been rising
since 2010. And there has been a corresponding rise in the number of
road crashes and road traffic fatalities.
Next slide, please. So if you can see, Your Honor, since 2014, the
number of road crashes in the Philippines on national roads has been
rising sharply. The most recent being 32,269 for 2016.
Next slide, please. In Metro Manila, it rose sharply from 95,000
to 109,000 for 2016. As for the fatalities, Your Honor, in
Next slide, please. This is again on Philippine national roads. The
number of fatalities rose by more than 100 percent from 1,040 to
2,144.
Next slide, please. According to the Philippine Statistics
Authority, again, the number of fatality is steadily rising.
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Next slide, please. I will skip through this slide, Your Honor. This
is, basically, the framework that we are using for addressing road
safety issues. And this has been adopted by the Department of
Transportation. The idea behind this is to strengthen all pillars at all at
the same time. And the DOTr spearheaded the development of the
Philippine Road Safety Action Plan. We can submit, Your Honor, a copy
of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan to the Committee.
Next slide, please. So these are the recommended actions of the
World Health Organization. Again, keeping in mind that mistakes do
happen and this was mentioned by Ms. Elvira Medina earlier. Mistakes
will happen, they are unavoidable. But the idea is to strengthen all
pillars of safety in order to minimize the impact of a road crash, avoid
a death or severe injury.
So the recommended actions of the WHO is first to create a lead
agency on road safety with sufficient mandate and sufficient funding.
Right now, the Department of Transportation is considered the lead
agency. However, it has been difficult for the DOTr to coordinate the
actions of other agencies involved in road safety. And to give the
Committee an idea of how many agencies are involved, we have the
DPWH, the DTI, the DepEd, the PIA, LTO, LTFRB, so there are really a
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lot of agencies that have to coordinate in order to have a concerted
action with respect to road safety.
The WHO also recommends laws on seat belts, child restraints,
motorcycle helmets, against impaired driving with alcohol, speed limits
and vehicle safety standards. To update the body, Your Honor, we
already have laws on seat belts, motorcycle helmets, drunk driving,
speed limits. However, there are various gaps with respect to these
laws.
Today, Your Honor, we discussed extensively on the standards of
the buses. In fact, we do not have yet a Vehicle Standards law in the
Philippines. And we have not adhered to any treaty on vehicle
standards. We have the 1958 Agreement from the World Forum on
Vehicle Standards. But the Philippines has not adhered to these safety
standards.
The WHO also recommends the conduct of road safety impact
assessments for new projects. Earlier, Engineer Suansing presented a
video on the route to the Tanay bus crash. And we noticed that there
were large vehicles parked along the road. Because they were
conducting road widening activities. And if road safety assessment
had been conducted, then they would have prepared for the parking so
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that they will not avoid creatingthey can avoid creating additional
exposure to risk to road crashes.
The WHO recommends also the improved data collection for the
Philippines. Right now, the DOTr is already working on what they call
the drivers program which is a computer web-based data collection
system. And its actually a fantastic tool. Unfortunately, it has not been
cascaded to the local government units because, again, it--
coordinating with LGUs has been difficult for the DOTr. They are
forced to coordinate to them on a one by one basis instead of on a
more institutionalized basis.
Roads should also have design standards to promote not just the
safety of car passengers but also of all road users and particularly for
vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. Right now, the
design standards of the Department of Public Works and Highways are
more focused on the cars and not so much on the vulnerable road
users. And, of course, moving our car riders to public transportation
would also have an impact on the safety.
Next slide, please. So, Your Honor, these are the major road
safety laws in the Philippines. We have speed under the Land
Transportation and Traffic Code; we have the Anti-Drunk and Drugged
Driving Act; the Motorcycle Helmet Act; and the Seatbelt Use Act.
115
Next slide, please. But we do not have a child restraints law. But,
Your Honor, youll notice, this is actually a self-assessment conducted
by the Philippine government through the Department of
Transportation which was published in the global road safety status
report of 2015. If you can see, Your Honor, the enforcement level of
these major road safety laws that we have is quite low. On the
average is about four. And yesterday we had a meeting on the
Philippine Road Safety Action Plan and we received some information,
for instance, from the enforcersfrom Atty. Oliver Tanseco of the
Philippine National Police that there is a lack of qualified enforcers. Or
we do not have adequate enforcers in the Philippines. Some of our law
enforcers who are enforcing technical law such as the Drunk-Driving
Law or the Speed Limit Law /rjo
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Jmbaisa II-3 March 14, 2017 12:38 p.m. 1
MS. SAN LUIS. ... Speed Limit Law are not given adequate
capacity building. They are also equipped with breathalyzers or speed
guns. In fact, Your Honor, we conducted an assessment of speed limit
on enforcement in the Philippines. And we discovered that in Davao,
they only have five speed guns. In Metro Manila, correct me if I am
wrong, I think they have also five speed guns. And then, in Tupi,
South Cotabato, they have like four speed guns. And other than that,
we did not find other LGUs with their own speed guns.
Next slide, please. So we have other road safety laws in the
Philippines. Senator JV Ejercito mentioned the Speed Limiter Act. We
also recently enacted the Anti-Distracted Driving Act and the Childrens
Safety on Motorcycles Act. However, the implementing rules and
regulations have not been issued by the appropriate agency. And we
are still waiting on that.
Next slide, please. Your Honor, these are just some of the gaps
that we have identified on the laws. I will not go into detail anymore.
But for speed, Your Honor, which I think was a factor that also
contributed to the impact of the road crash in Tanay, I noticed in the
video of Engineer Suansing that there were no speed limit signs on the
road. I only saw one sign on the weight, but there were no speed limit
signs, and this is a chronic problem across the country that they are
117
not very present. And also, again, enforcement is very low when it
comes to speed limits.
Next slide, please. For the Motorcycle Helmet Act, Your Honor,
the law does not yet require proper use of helmet. And we heard
about a month ago that someone from the House of Representatives
filed a bill allowing some local government units to suspend the
implementation of this law for purposes of crime reduction because of
the riding-in-tandem issue. And we hope that the Senate would
perhaps consider that we need stricter enforcement of the Motorcycle
Helmet Act and not the other way around.
Next slide, please. For the Drunk and Drugged Driving Act, the
primary problem right now is, of course, the lack of breathalyzers. I
think we only have about 150 right now for the whole country and the
PNP and LTO is set to acquire 2,000 more, and we have about 1,600
local government units in the country. So that is still not enough.
Aside from that, Your Honor, in other countries, we have what we call
random sobriety checks, and these random sobriety checks is not
allowed under the law because the law requires probable cause before
actually apprehending a driver for this law.
Next slide, please. So these are our policy recommendations to
the body:
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First is the creation of a national road safety agency. The
enactment of a national speed limit law is also necessary because the
classification of roads under R.A. 4136 or the Land Transportation and
Traffic Code is no longer consistent with how the DPWH classifies our
roads. The DPWH uses terms like national road, national primary,
secondary and tertiary. However, under R.A. 4136, which is a 1964
law, the classification is open roads, boulevards, country roads. So
there is a disconnect between what is happening now and what was in
the law. So perhaps that is the reason why the speed limit provisions
of that law is not being implemented.
Next slide, please.
And, again, these are other recommendations that we have.
Your Honor, I want to highlight as welland this has been a neglected
issue in road safetythat we still do not have a pre-hospital
emergency care system in the Philippines.
In the last Congress, the House of Representatives already
enacted a pre-hospital emergency care system. But the Senate failed
to act on the bill. It was the pre-hospital emergency care system
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Free hospital?
MS. SAN LUIS. Pre.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pre?
119
MS. SAN LUIS. Yes, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). What exactly is this?
MS. SAN LUIS. So the idea behind that is to have first
responders at the scene of the crime. So for the Tanay bus crash, I
heard that one of the victims tried to save their companions and we
also saw some videos wherein the bystanders were forced to enter the
bus to bring out some of the passengers because there were no
qualified
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Wala tayong first
responders?
MS. SAN LUIS. They came in about, I think, 15 minutes later
pa than the bystanders.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So we have in the country,
but not in many areas.
MS. SAN LUIS. Just some hospitals, Your Honor, but not all.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Some hospitals. Okay.
MS. SAN LUIS. And, Your Honor, also the vehicle, if perhaps
we can already adhere to the 1958 agreement on vehicle standards?
Because we do not have vehicle standards in the Philippines at the
moment.
Thats it, Your Honor.
120
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Can you go back to your
slide where all the pertinent laws regarding the road safety? So I can
take a snapshot of it.
While you are doing that, I would like to hear fromthere was a
request. I think, Atty. Peter Aguilar, you wanted to manifest
something?
MR. AGUILAR. Just to add to what Engr. Dan Reyes has
manifested, Your Honor.
Sea transport investigation of accidents is jointly handled by PCG
and MARINA. Under the PCG Law, it has the authority to investigate
maritime accidents, and so with MARINA.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). PCG Law?
MR. AGUILAR. Yes, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Ano po iyon?
MR. AGUILAR. 1993 Philippine Coast Guard Law. It has the
authority to investigate
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Yes. That was already
mentioned by Engineer Reyes.
MR. AGUILAR. Yes. But MARINA has a concurrent authority to
investigate too, Your Honor. And our stakeholders in the maritime
industry is really pushing for the creation of an NTSB so that there will
121
be only one body investigating the whole thing. And often times,
stakeholders are facing with so many investigations and conflicting
results. But with an NTSB which, incidentally, there was an attempt
before the House of Representatives to pass one chapter in the
Maritime Code creating the NTSB. So its high time, Your Honor, that
an NTSB should be created.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. Thank you for that
manifestation. In fact, the NTSB will be composed of experts from the
different transportation group as well as land, air and sea.
Before Ms. Elvie. LTO, this is not necessarily about the NTSB,
but may mga nagtatanong kailan daw lalabas iyong mga plates nila
dahil, Binili ko iyong kotse a year ago, hanggang ngayon, wala pa.
Akala ko ba napa-fast-track na, Asec? Asec, pasensya na po.
MR. GALVANTE. Yes, Your Honor. The cases before the
Supreme Court and COA remained unresolved. However, we are
pursuing another mode of procurement. And, again, following the
procedure, we might be able to start distributing the plates by end of
third quarter, Madam Chairman.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Which court is it pending?
MR. GALVANTE. Supreme Court, Your Honor.
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THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Supreme Court. Who is
questioning, the supplier?
MR. GALVANTE. No, Your Honor. There are two congressmen
who filed the petition before the Supreme Court. Then, COA, we
requested for reconsideration. We were informed that they would
decide the case based on the ruling of the Supreme Court that will
come out.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So its tied up because of
legal obstacles. But in the meantime, cant you bypass that and just
get another supplier?
MR. GALVANTE. In fact, thats what we are doing, Your Honor.
We are going to put up another bidding for these plates.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So wala pang bidding then?
MR. GALVANTE. The TOR is still being finalized, although we
have already sounded off possible suppliers, Your Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Wait a minute. So you have
been there for a few months, and you still havent started the bidding
process, Asec? I am not blaming you, Im just saying, LTO has not?
MR. GALVANTE. Your Honor, we have several actually
activities. Its just too bad that we were hoping that the request for a
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reconsideration will be favorably given to us, however, it was not.
That is why
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So walang contingency.
So in the meantime, kung kailangangbumili ako ng sasakyan,
hanggang ngayon wala pa rin, ibang other source to get a plate, wala?
MR. GALVANTE. Your Honor, we have adopted the conduction
sticker as the temporary plate ... /jmb
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HSGayapa III-3 March 14, 2017 12:48 p.m. 1
MR. GALVANTE. as the temporary plate. However, we are
insisting that according to the law, before the vehicle can be used, it
should first be registered. That is why even the processing of
registration has been expedited and we have dialogues with the car
dealers telling them on how we can fast-track the registration, Your
Honor.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Please go ahead.
MR. GALVANTE. We are requesting that they avoid this
tendency of batching their transactions para po naaaksiyunan kaagad
namin at hindi nag-aantay iyong bumili ng sasakyan.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Pero iyong lisensiya mabilis
na?
MR. GALVANTE. Your Honor, iyong lisensiya ay nakakapag-
issue na po tayo ng five-year license validity except iyong card po nito
ay eventually probably by August mai-release ito. We are procuring
this
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So, resibo pa rin ngayon?
MR. GALVANTE. Yes, Your Honor. But for those issued before,
iyong three-year validity lahat po ito ay nasagot na natin. We started
issuing the five-year validity last October. Natapos na po iyong
bidding. Diditerminin (determine) lang namin kung sino po ang dapat
125
maawardan (award) nito although there are already cases being filed
against us for this.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Alam mo kaya nga gusto ko
din ipasa iyong emergency powers for certain problems like that which
we can avoid, useless court TROs o kaya iyong mga ganoon. Anyway,
that is subject for another hearing.
Well, first of all, before my closing remark, Id like to hear Ms.
Elvie again because we are trying to wrap up by 1:00.
MS. MEDINA. This has reference to the presentation a while
ago. Id like to update you that all these issues, all these topics that
you had presented had been discussed. We have been doing an
intensive discussion of all these since 2012, yearly discussion.
Engiineer Suansings group which is the PGRSP together with the iRAP
made a road assessment program and we worked with WHO in order
to address all these. One of the big things that had been done and
your concern was the lack of first responders. Im proud to tell you
that because of the training programs we have done with bus drivers,
we worked with the Red Cross so that you have now more than 2,000
first responders who are also bus drivers running in the provincial
roads.
126
So, these are a result of the frequent consultations, yearly
consultations we did together with the Decade of Action for Road
Safety.
So, probably you can get in touch with the group of Engineer
Suansing which is the PGRSP so that you can get an update including
details of the variants of the vehicles that are mostly involved with
road accidents or road crashes. Fifty-six percent of those that you
reported are motorcycle accidents. So, that is very important and we
are taking a closer look why this is happening. One of the things that
we found out is that there are modifications in the motorcycle
equipment itself that compromises the safety. So, that is another
thing.
The other thing that wed like to point out here is regarding the
rights of the commuters most especially the rights of those who were
involved in accidents. The insurance and the penalties from the LTFRB
and the LTO is only one part. The trauma and the mental anguish that
the victims are experiencing can be subject for civil liabilities. Please
take that in mind.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). We are trying to finish at
1:00 but I think there is a request from Cherryfrom ADAPT.
127
MS. MEDINA. ADAPT.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). A very short manifestation.
MS. RODOLFO. Good afternoon, Madam Chair.
Actually Im with the Export Development Council and the EDC
actually passed Resolution No. 02 of 2017 supporting the separation of
conflicting functions of agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority of
the Philippines. And given that, the EDC actually supporting the
creation of the National Transportation Safety Board. So, we will just
submit a copy of the resolution and also some comments specific to SB
162 and also the bill filed by Senator Ejercito.
Thank you.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Thank you. Thank you for
your support.
Attorney, very short.
MR. SIBAL. Ibig ko pong mabigyan ng emphasis para i-input
po ng Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection po sana
maamyendahan iyong Article 365 ng Revised Penal Code at ganoon din
po iyong Republic Act 4136 kasi updated na ho iyan. Mayroon na po
tayong mga SLEX, NLEX at saka TPLEX, mga highway po. Updated na
po iyong mga batas natin diyan. At saka pati ho iyong Civil Code,
128
iyong indemnity for death ay napakababa, 1950indemnity lang ho
iyon.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Magkano ba iyong
indemnity ngayon?
MR. SIBAL. Twelve thousand ho ang nakalagay sa Civil Code.
In-upgrade lang ho iyan by decision of the Supreme Court pero
napakababa po nungiyong for the fact of death, dapat mayroon hong
minimum na ia-award ang batas natin.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Thank you for calling our
attention to that, Attorney. That is quite crucial.
Okay. So, in todays hearing, first of all, Id like to thank the
families of the victims and the victims themselves. Kayo po na mga
pamilya ng biktima at mga biktima mismo na naggawa kayo ng oras
para pumunta rito. Alam ko hindi naman madali pero ginagawa nyo
ito hindi para sa sarili ninyo kung hindi para maiwasan din ang
ganitong uri ng trahedya na mangyayari.
So, kung iisipin mo iyong nawala iyong mga kaibigan mo
hanggang ngayonAno nga uli ang pangalan mo?
MR. RAGUA. Irriz Ragua po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Irriz. Irriz, maraming
salamat sa pagpunta mo ngayon. Siyempre sa mga kaibigan mo
129
minsan iniisip mo, Sana may nagawa pa ako. Sa pagkakataon
ngayon may nagagawa ka dahil nandito ka at pinag-uusapan natin
papaano natin magagawang mas ligtas ang ating mga kalsada, ang
ating mga sasakyan.
So, maraming salamat.
Maam, maraming salamat.
At sa iyo rin, Jenelyn, at sa lahat ng mga iba pang pamilya na
naririto, thank you po.
Ako po ay nakikiramay sa inyong pinagdaraan.
Bestlink, ipapaalala ko lang, kasi what we really need also is a
community helping each other to heal. Its not enough that we are
going through with all the legal processes and all these technical
discussions. What they need is a shoulder to cry on or a person or an
authority from your school that will make them feel that they are not
alone.
So, as we now read the conclusion for todays hearings of the
different committees, Majority Leader Tito Sotto delivered a speech
calling for a legislative inquiry in the Tanay bus accident, it is called
There is a human error but we do not go after the regulatory agencies
that issued certificate of roadworthiness in public utility vehicles.
130
Senator Sotto also called for stricter implementation of the
issuance of drivers licenses.
The Committee also found that the bus was inspected in Subic
sometime in 04. According to LTFRB, their investigation revealed that
the Panda Coach bus was actually 29 years old, way beyond the 15-
year cap implemented by the agency on buses.
Our resource persons also said they impose a 15-year age limit
on buses due to lack of an alternative motor vehicle inspection service.
We only have nine all over the country. And for the entire NCR, I
think we have one in Laguna, Cabuyao.
As regards the Tanay bus crash, the LTFRB said, one significant
finding of their investigation was there was no skid marks on the road
leading to the crash site which is quite unusual since the road was
treacherous.
According to former LTO chief, Alberto Suansing, now the
executive director of the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership,
there were enough warnings on the road. The road, based on their
inspection, was actually an uphill portion so the driver had to pick up
speed when he lost control of the bus. The brake was also functional
but had signs of burns.
For the LTFRB, they said /hsg
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Aliccatimbang IV-3 March 14, 2017 12:58 p.m. 1
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). For the LTFRB, they said
they are going to launch a drivers academy training in coordination
with TESDA that has an existing program. Sinabi ko rin na tanggalin na
iyong mga nakapaskil na instructional tungkol sa mga rules and
regulations ng driving doon sa areas ng nag-e-exam. Pupuntahan
namin kayo. Umpisa pa lang, tinuturuan na ninyong maging
mandaraya iyong mga drivers. But, thank you. You know what, Asec
Galvante, youve been very candid. You know, I really appreciate this
because this is how we can help you. You used to tell us really your
shortcomings and what the problems are. Of course, these problems
have been in existence way before your arrival in that agency.
We also heard that there was no clear protocol on how the
investigation is being conducted for the Tanay bus crash. The PNP was
the one in charge of the investigation. Kalat-kalat ang imbestigasyon.
Hindi naman ito kasalanan ng PNP lamang. Wala naman sila talagang
kakayanan na gawin itong mag-isa.
Narinig din natin na wala man lamang person of authority na
kasama sa bus. Maging iyong kanilang NSTP head ay wala naman dito
sa pagdinig na ito na dapat nandito sila. As a requirement of regulatory
agency, especially CHED and DepEd, nararapat na isama sa guidelines
ang pagkakaroon ng persons of authority.
132
To make matters worse on investigations of transport accident, it
is the PNP and other land regulatory agencies that conduct
investigations for maritime accidents. The Coast Guard forms a board
of marine inquiry to probe sea mishaps. The Civil Aviation Authority of
the Philippines has an aircraft accident investigation and inquiry board,
etcetera. It underscores the need for an independent body. Because
nga naman, iimbestigahan mo iyong sarili mo, kayo-kayo rin ang
nadoon, hindi ba? So mayroon talagang conflict of interest. At kahit na
naging patas kayo, hindi ninyo masisisi na magduda pa rin iyong iba.
With all these situations, it is timely that we have passed
remedial legislation that will focus on a clear-cut investigation on the
transport related accidents. The board will be tasked to investigate
accidents involving transportation such as aircraft, highway accidents,
railroad pipelines and major marine accidents. It is also an
independent body that will conduct studies on transport safety and
report to Congress, the President and concerned state agencies on how
to make transportation safer. I am glad that we are all in agreeance
here that we should have an independent national transport safety
board.
Id like to thank Ms. Elvie Medina for her continued support. I
know that she has been doing this on her own, especially with bus
133
operations. Ive heard that story for a long time--since 2013, since
Ive been here, since I was in the MTRCB--from Ms. Elvie. But this is
only the first time that Ive been given a chance to head actually the
Public Services. So hopefully by this time, we will have this NTSB
passed.
Id like to thank Imagine Law for their very comprehensive and
informative presentation on road safety and also all the different road
laws that we have.
I would like to ask the speed limiter that you have on the buses.
When are you going to be able to implement this fully, LTO or LTFRB
ba iyon? Iyong speed limiter iyon, hindi ba?
MS. LONTOC. Madam Chair, the IRR is still being formulated
by the technical working group which is composed of DOTr, DPWH
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Kailan ba napasa itong batas
na ito?
MS. LONTOC. Last year, July.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Bakit ang tagal ng IRR?
MS. LONTOC. Maam, I was informed that they had discussion
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). When is your deadline?
MS. LONTOC. We target April.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). No. Why April pa?
134
MS. LONTOC. Maam, according to the technical working group,
they will have another two meetings to discuss about the standards.
And the DPWH also requested that they also give some inputs on the
roads and speed.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. The speed limiter will
be purchased from one supplier? Or will every bus have to be equipped
with one?
Im sorry, Usec Lontoc. I think Atty. Sofia might know better
than you.
MS. SAN LUIS. Yes. Ive been participating in the technical
working group as a legal consultant. And the difficulty that we
encountered really is on the standards because the Department of
Trade and Industry does not really have a capacity to set the
standards or accredit these speed limiters. They are very technical,
maam.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So ano ba iyan? Pag
mayroon tayong in-approve na speed limiter, kailangan iisang
kumpanya lang iyon?
MS. SAN LUIS. Hindi po.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Iba-iba. How are we going
to accredit nga each of them?
135
MR. SUANSING. Yes, accreditation po ang problema. The
reason why they cannot come up easily with an IRR because its highly
technical po.
MS. SAN LUIS. But, maam, I think this Thursday will be our
last meeting. Weve already formulated the IRR. And the DTI already
has submitted the standards that they will adopt for the speed limiters.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). So if you will come up with
the guidelines in the IRR by April, Usec Lontoc, when will this be
implementable?
MR. SUANSING. Fifteen days after the publication.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Fifteen days. So that means
all buses will have to have one within 15 days?
MS. SAN LUIS. Sorry, maam, again. There is a grace period
provided in the law to allow the buses to comply with the requirement.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). How long would that be,
Attorney? You are familiar with this.
MS. SAN LUIS. Six months for buses and one year for other
trucks and other types of vehicle.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Yes. Because I think this is
crucial. If we have this, then at least we can make sure that there is
less careless drivers on the road because of speed limiter.
136
Attorney.
MR. DELGRA. Since were on the issue of speed limiter and the
IRR is still being worked out, actually the LTFRB has a current policy
and it is being implemented on the GPS or GNSS that the buses are
required to install in each and every unit that they have. As one
technical guy had told me, the GNSS is actually a passive way of
determining speed. But the speed limiter would be the active medium
by which the busthe speed of which would actually be limited in that
sense. But were doing that now insofar as the GNSS installation for
public utility buses all over the country.
THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Okay. So, thank you so
much for your presence here today again. Of course, Usec Robert Lim,
thank you for being here. I know youre really busy. And to everyone,
this meeting is adjourned.
[THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED AT 1:05 P.M.]
137

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Republic of the Philippines

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICES

Date : Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Time : 10:00 am.

Venue : Session Hall

Agenda : PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SEN. VICENTE C. SOTTO III

RESOLUTION ON ROAD AND TRAFFIC SAFETY

PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 190 -

BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (by Senator

BUS ACCIDENT THAT CLAIMED LIVES OF 15

PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 301 -

BILL ON NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY

SENATE BILL NO. 162 - AN ACT TO PROMOTE

BILLS ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS OF TAXI

SENATE BILL NO. 340 - AN ACT ORDAINING THE

SENATE BILL NO. 375 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING

BILL ON MARITIME PASSENGER SAFETY ACT:

SENATE BILL NO. 656 - AN ACT MANDATING

BILLS ON AIR PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS ACT:

SENATE BILL NO. 863 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A

SENATE BILL NO. 896 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING

SENATE BILL NO. 1059 - AN ACT PROVIDING FOR

BILL ON ROAD SAFETY AND COMPREHENSIVE

SENATE BILL NO. 1231 - AN ACT INTEGRATING

INEFFICIENT VEHICLE INSPECTION AND

PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 314 -

VEHICLE INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION

HON. GRACE POE - Chairperson, Committee on

Hon. Anneli Lontoc - Undersecretary for Roads and

Atty. Sophia San Luis - Imagine Law

Mr. Diosdado Lleno - VP for Admin, Bestlink College of the

Atty. Antonette B. Cordero - Committee Secretary

(For complete list, please see attached Attendance Sheet.)

AT 10:08 A.M., HON. GRACE POE,

THE CHAIRPERSON (SEN. POE). Magandang umaga po.

The joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services

together with the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; and

Finance is hereby called to order.

In todays discussions, we will tackle bills and resolutions that

speech on road accidents. Transportation safety is an important issue

that has long languished as a secondary priority. Various mishaps on

lands such as those involving buses and those at sea, particularly in

two agencies that compile data on vehicular accidents.

I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Majority Floor

Leader, Senator Tito Sotto.

Good morning, sir.

In 2014, the MMDA reported that there were 90,258 vehicular

accidents resulting in 418 deaths. In 2015, they reported 95,615 traffic

accidents; 5,357 more than in 2014. Of this number, 519 persons

capacity and investigating powers. What about areas outside of Metro

regulatory bodies would conduct their own investigations. These

agencies have acted as judge, jury and executioner leading to rumors

of institutional whitewashes and cover-ups.

For instance, the existing Civil Aviation Authority of the

during the investigation of the accident involving a department

conflict of interest, situations wherein an agency is both the regulator

of an independent body to address transport safety incidents has