After the bus tragedy that killed at least 42 people in Benguet last Wednesday, transportation authorities are eying an overhaul of procedures for granting driver's licenses and transport franchises.
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Jose de Jesus announced the plan Friday even as he said a hearing on the tragedy will be conducted on August 23 (Monday).
"It's quite clear we really have to review and improve this program of making sure that vehicles, especially public utility vehicles, are roadworthy before they are registered or given franchises," De Jesus said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
"As you can see, there's plenty that needs to be improved. We are reviewing [the process]. If there are any deficiencies, [we need] to improve our program for roadworthiness testing, for driver proficiency testing, irregular monitoring as well as making sure appropriate penalties are meted out for violations," he added.
De Jesus said the new procedures will address loopholes that some transport operators had exploited.
He said one new requirement for operators is a program for vehicle maintenance that authorities can regularly monitor.
"We shall require all operators applying for certificates of public convenience to submit a vehicle maintenance program that we can monitor on a regular basis," he said.
On the other hand, he said part of the new procedures will be a stricter policy on the issuance of professional driver’s licenses.
"We really need to improve testing of driver proficiency especially before they are granted professional drivers' licenses," he said.
The transportation industry suffered another black eye in last Wednesday’s road tragedy in Benguet.
President Benigno Aquino III has ordered an exhaustive investigation, branding as "lame" the excuse that the brakes of the Eso-Nice bus (AVB-549) failed.
Monday hearing
De Jesus said that on Monday's hearing, Eso-Nice firm owners "will be asked to explain why the franchises should not be canceled because of what happened," he said.
A separate report on dwIZ said DOTC Ilocos regional director Federico Mandapat Jr. ordered all Eco-Nice bus units grounded.
Mandapat also ordered the retraining, drug testing and examinations for drivers.
The firm's bus units are to be brought to San Fernando City in Pampanga for inspection.
Meanwhile, a dwIZ report said Wednesday's incident has made passengers in Ilocos wary of riding mini-buses, preferring to take big buses and vans instead.
The report said firms running small buses along routes in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, have reported a decrease in ridership since last Wednesday's incident. — LBG
