By ALEXANDRIA SAN JUAN
The Dimple Star bus unit that figured in an accident last March killing 19 passengers had been rebuilt out of scrap from a junk shop.
The information cropped up during the hearing conducted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday.
“We were very surprised. Alam namin na rebuild, pero there are some rebuild na hindi pagmumurahin ang gastos sa pagrerebuild.You have to invest a little bit more. Pero kung ‘yung gastusin ay tinitipid mo, tinataas mo ‘yung risk of accident,” LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III told reporters after the hearing.
With the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program, rebuilt PUVS are no longer allowed.
Delgra chided operators for blaming other elements, such as natural causes, as to why the bus is dilapidated.
“You take full responsibility of your business to ensure that all your vehicles are roadworthy. We cannot do business as usual. People are dying and you are not doing anything?” Delgra asked.
Delgra, who visited the accident site personally, showed pictures of how rusty the bus unit was despite looking new outside.
The LTFRB chief said there will definitely be a stiffer penalty as the P3,000 initial penalty was “totally unacceptable.”
