MANILA — To help prevent the overloading of passengers in vehicles, one of the supposed causes of the recent bus tragedy in Nueva Ecija, a Senator on Thursday sought to impose stiffer penalties for the violation.
“I think it is high time to pass an amendment with respect to the violation of the prescribed maximum capacity of public utility vehicles,” Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said in a statement.
The bus tragedy in Nueva Ecija reportedly killed 31 people and injured 46 others after it fell into a 100-feet deep ravine on Tuesday (April 18).
Ejercito, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said that major steps should be taken to revamp regulations on land transportation.
“Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code is an outdated law which needs to be reviewed. We were able to pass the Speed Limiter Act during the 16th Congress,” Ejercito said.
He noted that the law was enacted in June 1964, and its corresponding terms and conditions issued by the LTFRB do not provide for a penalty which corresponds to the possible damage to its passengers.
“What we need are stiffer penalties for overloading. Right now, our law only prescribes for PHP2,000 and PHP3,000 and suspension of the Certificate of Public Convenience for 1st and 2nd offense, respectively,” he added. Azer Parrocha/PNA-northboundasia.com