Explain, LTFRB orders trucker, operator in deadly Marikina mishap

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Saturday that it has issued a show-cause order to the truck owner and driver involved in a road accident in Marikina City that killed three people and injured 10 others.

LTFRB chairperson Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III said the he has summoned First Forwarders Co. Inc. to explain in writing why its Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) should not be suspended, canceled, or revoked due to the fatal accident.

Guadiz pointed out that the show cause order specifically asks the truck company to justify why their CPC must not be suspended or revoked for employing a reckless driver, noting that the incident resulted in deaths and physical injuries.

The owner and the driver involved in the accident were also directed to appear in the hearing of the case at the LTFRB.

Failure on the part of the company and the truck driver to explain within the prescribed period and appear at the hearing will be considered a waiver to be heard, and the case shall be submitted for resolution based on the records of the LTFRB, Guadiz said.

Records show that First Forwarders Co. Inc. secured a CPC from the LTFRB in July 2021.

Under the rules of the LTFRB, all owners or operators of private vehicles classified as trucks, aluminum vans, or called by other names or with other configurations — except tricycles — registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and used for hauling purposes must secure a CPC to operate a truck-for-hire service from the LTFRB.

Rolly Manabat, 62, a truck driver and pahinante (delivery truck helper) of more than four decades, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that most trucks in the country are registered under the guise of being “in good running condition,” even though they have been on the road for a very long time.

Manabat said this must be the focus of the special task force composed of personnel from the Department of Transportation, LTFRB and LTO formed by Transport Secretary Vince Dizon.

The creation of a special task force aims to review policies and procedures on road safety with the goal of implementing possible reforms.

“The first thing they should do is to check the trucks’ registration and compare it to the condition of the truck. You can see on the registration what year model it is, and you can compare that at a glance. So if it already looks very old, how did it pass the LTO inspection?” Manabat pointed out.