MANILA — Following the fatal bus crash in Tanay, Rizal that claimed the lives of 15 people, Malacañang has ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to make sure that all public transportation buses in the country are safe and roadworthy.
“The Palace expresses its condolences to the families of the victims who died in the fatal bus mishap in Tanay, Rizal. The LTFRB has already been directed to ensure the road worthiness of the buses and to remind public utility drivers to guarantee the safety of all their passengers. The passengers must safely arrive at their respective destinations,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said during a Palace press briefing Tuesday.
“The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is likewise conducting the necessary investigation to determine if proper procedures were observed by school authorities,” Abella added.
On Monday, a tourist bus carrying students from Bestlink College of the Philippines smashed into an electric post along a curved road in Barangay Sampaloc in Tanay.
The students were on their way to medical and survival training at the Sacramento Adventure Camp as part of their National Service Training Program (NSTP).
The crash killed at least 15 people — 13 students, a teacher and the bus driver — and injured 40 others.
Earlier Tuesday, a CHED official called for the suspension of all college field trips until investigations into the bus crash completed.
CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera said the suspension is necessary in order to carry out a proper investigation as well as to review the policies covering field trips.
“It must also be determined if higher education institutions comply with safety guidelines and whether current policies on school trips protect the students adequately,” De Vera said. PNA-northboundasia.com