Florida buses remain off road as suspension lapses

By Raymund Catindig

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Bus units of G.V. Florida Transport Inc. remain off the road even as its 30-day suspension lapsed last week after it figured in a mishap in this capital town.

Bus dispatchers in Florida’s terminals in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan and Ilagan City in Isabela said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has yet to return the license plates of their buses, which were removed and deposited at the LTFRB central office in Quezon City.

LTFRB regional director Rodolfo Jaucian said they have no idea about the agency’s decision on Florida’s franchise.

An LTFRB insider said Florida might likely be allowed to initially operate 45 of its buses.

“Once allowed to operate, the LTFRB will seal the license plates of the bus cleared of charges to prevent the management from transferring them to other units,” the source said.

The driver of the bus that figured in the Bontoc crash was released after posting P50,000 bail.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will decide on the revocation of the franchise of bus firm GV Florida next Wednesday, the board’s executive director, Roberto Cabrera, said yesterday.

Appearing before the House good government committee, Cabrera could not however categorically say whether the board would revoke the bus company’s franchise.

The agency suspended GV Florida’s certificate of public conveyance (CPC) after one of its buses fell into a deep ravine in Bontoc,  killing 16 passengers.

Although he could not say for sure whether GV Florida’s license would be cancelled, Cabrera said the LTFRB, in similar cases, has revoked the CPCs of bus companies involved in deadly accidents.

“This was what happened to Don Mariano Transit, and just last week, to Elena and MGV,” he said.

He said Don Mariano Transit, whose bus fell off the Skyway, has filed a motion for reconsideration, which the franchising board denied.

The House good government committee is looking into alleged irregularities committed by the previous board in the issuance of CPCs.

Cabrera informed the committee that upon the board’s instruction, he is now looking into the issuance by the LTFRB regional office in Central Luzon of franchises for 112 buses belonging to Pangasinan Solid North Transit.

Responding to questions from committee members, he said such franchises should not have been issued in 2012 and 2013 because there has been a moratorium on the operation of new buses since 2012.

“We have already asked the concerned personnel for their explanations,” he said.