“Mas mura pa sa presyo ng isang lechon baka.”
This was how AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee described the amount of insurance—P15,000.00—that can be claimed for the death or injury of a passenger, third party, or pedestrian involved in a vehicular accident under our current laws, an “unjust” figure that he hopes to remedy with House Bill (HB) No. 8498, which seeks to increase the amount of insurance claim for death or injury per accident to any passenger, third party or pedestrian without the necessity of proving fault or negligence from P15,000.00 to at least P1 million.
“Our laws should be attuned to the needs of those they seek to benefit and protect, and by passing HB 8498 we can take care of victims and their families while ensuring that commercial vehicle owners are held accountable for safety issues in their operations. Dito, Winner Tayo Lahat.”
The lawmaker on Friday said he learned about the current insurance claim amounts last April after he received a plea for assistance from the family of a traffic accident victim, a 22-year-old cum laude graduate who tragically died when she and her boyfriend figured in a vehicular accident when they were on their way home.
“Pauwi na sila ng isang Sunday, about 6:30 in the morning, nakasakay sila sa motorsiklo nila, pareho silang naka-helmet. Nakahinto sa Quezon Ave. dahil traffic, nasa tamang linya sila nang bigla na lang silang banggain ng commercial vehicle, isang elf na truck,” recounted Lee.
“Tumilapon, at sa kasamaang palad, after three days, namatay. Noong namatay, binisita ko po ‘yong magulang. Doon ko po nalaman ‘yong istorya nila,” said the lawmaker.
Lee said that according to the girl’s parents, after she was brought to the hospital, her family was offered P50,000 by the owner of the truck.
The Bicolano legislator explained, “dahil ‘yong pamilya walang pera, kapit sa patalim, tinanggap po ‘yong P50,000, pinapirma. Noong namatay, dahil ang nakasaad po sa ating Insurance Code, ang no fault indemnity – ‘yon pong huwag na nating pag-usapan kung sino ang may kasalanan – ang nakalagay lang doon ay P15,000. So ang ginawa ng nakabangga, inofferan sila ng P15,000 at sinabi na take it or leave it dahil kung sila ay magkakasuhan aabutin ito nang taon-taon.”
“Itong pamilya, wala namang pantustos sa kaso, kukuha pa ng abogado, pupunta pa sa hearing, and everything, at kailan pa aabutin? At kapag napatunayan na may kasalanan sa pagkamatay, ang nasa batas natin ngayon ay P100,000 lang ang death insurance,” he lamented.
“So ang akin, ‘yong isang taong 22 years old na inalagaan ng isang pamilya, lahat ng sakripisyo ginawa nila – magpaaral, pagtitipid sa pagkain – ngayon at nag-graduate na at inaasahan mo na siya ay tutulong para maiangat ang buhay nila, ngayon wala na at bibigyan mo lang ng P15,000. Kahit idagdag mo pa yung P50,000, mas mura pa sa presyo ng isang lechon baka.”
Following the tragedy, Lee filed HB 8498 on May 31, 2023. If passed, the measure will increase the amount of insurance claim for death or injury per accident to any passenger, third party or pedestrian without the necessity of proving fault or negligence from P15,000.00 to at least P1 million for any four or more wheeled commercial motor vehicle designed to transport goods/cargoes and/or persons, with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to 4,500 kgs.
If the four or more wheeled commercial motor vehicle designed to transport goods/cargoes and/or persons has a GVW of more than 4,500 kgs, the amount increases to P2 million.
“The current rates under the law are unjust. Talong-talo ang mga pamilya ng mga biktima. Our laws should be attuned to the needs of those they seek to benefit and protect, and by passing HB 8498 we can take care of victims and their families while ensuring that commercial vehicle owners are held accountable for safety issues in their operations. Dito, Winner Tayo Lahat.”
