TACLOBAN CITY — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Eastern Visayas has imposed a 30-day preventive suspension on all units operating under the franchise of Duptours Shuttle Services Inc. following a fatal road crash in Basey, Samar that left four people dead.
The suspension order, issued upon the directive of LTFRB Regional Director Gualberto N. Gualberto, took effect immediately and will remain in force while authorities conduct an investigation and verify the operator’s compliance with transport regulations.
Covered by the suspension are all vehicles under the Duptours franchise, including the Toyota HiAce UV Express van involved in the February 10 accident along the national highway in Sitio Sugpuron, Barangay Balud, Basey.
Police said the van, which was plying the Borongan City–Tacloban City route, swerved into the opposite lane and crashed into a parked flatbed truck Tuesday morning. The vehicle was driven by a 54-year-old resident of Alangalang, Leyte, and was carrying nine passengers.
The driver and three female passengers — aged 71, 57, and another adult — were declared dead at the scene. Five other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to Basey District Hospital for treatment.
As part of its regulatory mandate, the LTFRB directed the operator to require all its drivers to undergo mandatory drug testing at a Department of Health-accredited facility. Drivers must also attend an accredited Road Safety Seminar focusing on safe driving practices and fleet management responsibilities.
The LTFRB further ordered that all vehicles under the franchise be subjected to inspection to ensure their roadworthiness and mechanical fitness for public transport operations.
In addition, the LTFRB instructed the company to extend medical and hospitalization assistance to the injured passengers and provide support to the families of those who died, including help with funeral arrangements. The concerned insurance provider was also directed to immediately process and release passenger insurance claims.
In a statement, Duptours Shuttle Services Inc. said it would shoulder all hospital expenses of the injured passengers. The company also committed to provide P400,000 in financial assistance to each family of the fatalities to help cover funeral and burial costs.
Duptours management assured that it will coordinate closely with the victims’ families and concerned authorities as the investigation into the cause of the crash continues.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
