MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) gets complaints against irresponsible and reckless buses all the time, but when it comes down to the wire, the complainants themselves are the first to back down.

It’s one of the reasons buses that are notorious for traffic violations do not always get sanctioned or have their franchises revoked, said lawyer Mary Ann Salada, chief of staff of LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez.

The LTFRB – and the way it regulates Metro Manila’s city buses – are in the hot seat after a Don Mariano bus skidded off the Skyway’s southbound lane on Monday, landing on top of a van plying the West Service Road of the South Luzon Expressway, and killing at least 18.

Salada told Rappler that when they get a valid complaint via the LTFRB hotline, they issue a notice for the reading of a case. On hearing day, however, the complainants usually do not show up. “People complain, but there’s no follow through,” she said.

Without complainants present, the cases are usually dismissed and complainants get off scott free. “We need to judge according to the merits,” said Salada.

Revoking a franchise isn’t and shouldn’t be done in haste, she added. “There has to be due process, a hearing for each case. For example, if your neighbor files a complaint about you, it wouldn’t be right for your house to be taken away,” she said.

New list of ‘deadliest’ buses

Don Mariano, the operator of the bus that fell off the Skyway, was among the “deadliest,” according to a 2011 list by the LTFRB. Salada said the operator had been suspended several times before by the LTFRB.

Last year, a Don Mariano bus also figured in an accident at the EDSA-Ortigas flyover, leaving 6 people hurt.

The LTFRB has slapped a 30-day suspension on the operations of the entire fleet of Don Mariano Transit Corporation following the Monday accident. 

Malacañang said on Tuesday the government is adopting strict measures to eventually keep “irresponsible operators and reckless drivers” out of the streets.

Salada told Rappler that the LTFRB will be coming out with an “updated” list of the metro’s “worst buses.” Three lists were released in 2011, ranking buses according to the number of deaths, injured, and properties damaged as a result of accidents.

Former LTFRB Chairman Jaime Jacob earlier said in a GMA News Online article that operators on the list of “deadliest buses” are not necessarily the most “untrustworthy” because not all accidents were caused by the bus. – Rappler.com