Senator Raffy Tulfo, as Senate Chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, conducted a random surprise inspection at bus terminals in Metro Manila ahead of All Souls’ & Saints’ Day celebrations which are expected to bring in a lot of passengers.
Tulfo was accompanied by LTO, LTFRB and PDEA officials.
This was also two weeks after the legislator went to several piers to inspect boats and ships.
Similar to the ports, the lawmaker also saw violations from different bus terminals and buses that were scheduled to travel to the province.
“The worst part is that almost all fire extinguishers are either expired or defective.”
The terminals that the senator visited include Buendia Bus Liner, DLTB Bus Co., JAM, JAC, LLI Bus Liner Terminal, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Five Star Bus Terminal, and Baliwag Bus Liner Terminal.
He noticed that almost all the buses have only one dedicated fire extinguisher in front for the driver and conductor, and none for the passengers in the middle and back. The worst part, he said, is that almost all fire extinguishers are either expired or defective.
Tulfo also criticized how some of the buses don’t have emergency window exits and if there was, it does not have emergency glass break hammers attached to it.
It can be recalled that there have been many reported accidents in the past where only the bus driver and conductor survived the accident while the passengers were trapped inside the burning bus and were stuck, that’s why rescuers had a hard time saving them.
“Napansin ko rin ang mga bus na pudpod ang gulong,” he said.
Tulfo shared that he even caught one bus planning to travel with a nail on one of its flat tires. The driver himself admitted that one of the causes of bus accidents is flat tires with insufficient tire pressure.
When he asked the drivers the basis in measuring correct tire pressure, he found out that some of them beat the tire with a hammer or pipe, or they just kick the tire to estimate if it is hard or soft enough, which Tulfo found to be unacceptable.
Tulfo also noticed that most of the buses do not have CCTV cameras, first aid kits, and insurance policies that will cover the medical expenses of the passengers in the event of an accident.
They also don’t have a preventive maintenance book — which states if a bus is regularly and properly maintained.
“Mahalaga ito lalo pa at marami nang napapabalitang aksidente sa mga bus na ang dahilan ng driver ay nawalan daw ng preno o kontrol ang kanyang minamanehong bus,” he said.
“Kapag nangyari pang muli ang anumang aksidente dahil nawalan ng preno ang isang bus, agad na makakasuhan ang driver at operator dahil ibig sabihin na naging pabaya sila sa proper maintenance at maaaring maging dahilan para makansela ang kanilang prangkisa,” Tulfo added.
He also required bus operators to have hand-held metal detectors that security guards will use on passengers before they board to ensure that no guns or knives are brought inside the bus.
Tulfo, meanwhile, got upset upon seeing that the reserved seat for PWDs and Senior Citizens was Monoblocks tied with plastic straw.
“Kaya agad kong ipinabaklas ito dahil ito ay tiyak na pagmumulan ng disgrasya,” he explained.
“Hindi rin pasado ang mga kubeta sa lahat ng bus stations na pinuntahan ko.”
“Hindi rin pasado ang mga kubeta sa lahat ng bus stations na pinuntahan ko. Kung wala man itong toilet paper, wala itong tubig o sabon na pwedeng gamitin panghugas ng pasaherong gumagamit ng palikuran,” Tulfo shared.
He also questioned terminals requiring passengers to pay for the use of toilet, saying, “kasama na dapat sa bayad sa pasahe ng mga pasahero ang libreng paggamit ng CR sa lahat ng bus terminals.”
During said inspection, PDEA also conducted a random drug testing in which one driver tested positive and was immediately turned over to authorities for further investigation.
Tulfo told LTO and LTFRB to give only one week to all buses and bus terminals to rectify the said violations for strict compliance, and if not, their operations should be stopped and franchises canceled. The said agencies immediately agreed.
Also included in his suggestion for the LTO is the monitoring of all the bus drivers who have many moving violations and had to be sent to a seminar.
The inspection was conducted to ensure passengers’ safety for the upcoming Undas where people are expected to travel going to and from the province to pay respects to their departed loved ones.
