The road accident that claimed ten lives on Labor Day along the SCTEX has left a two-year-old boy orphaned — the only survivor in a car where both his parents, one a member of the Philippine Coast Guard, perished.

This was detailed by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon during a radio interview Saturday morning, as he provided updates on the string of deadly highway accidents that occurred this week.

“It weighs heavily on all of us at the DOTr,” Dizon said in Filipino. “What happened on Labor Day was devastating. Ten people died, including four children. One of those killed was a young woman from the Philippine Coast Guard. She and her husband both died in the crash, and their two-year-old son, thank God, survived. But now he is an orphan.”

Dizon said he would personally attend the wake in Bulacan to pay respects to the Coast Guard member. "It’s incredibly painful. We must do everything to make sure this never happens again,” he said.

Mounting toll, mounting failures

The tragedy comes just weeks after DOTr announced renewed efforts to curb rising road accidents, particularly involving public utility vehicles (PUVs) like provincial buses. Dizon admitted that current systems and policies have failed to prevent such tragedies.

"Two weeks ago, after Holy Week, we noticed the alarming rise in crashes involving buses and PUVs,” he said. “It’s now very clear to me: the programs and policies we have in place are not effective. Many bus companies are abusive. They don’t maintain their vehicles, and they hire drivers who are unfit for the road. This SCTEX crash is a direct result of that failure."

According to Dizon, he met with 28 bus companies just this week and issued a stern warning.

“I told them clearly — we will not tolerate this anymore. Your buses must be roadworthy. Your brakes must work. And you must strictly screen your drivers,” he said.

Solid North faces charges

The Solid North bus company is now under government scrutiny. Dizon confirmed that the DOTr will file criminal charges against both the company and the driver.

“He refused to take a drug test,” Dizon pertaining to the driver. “That’s unacceptable. Drug testing is compulsory. I told the bus companies — holding a franchise is a privilege. Holding a professional driver’s license is a privilege. The government can take it away if you fail to uphold your responsibilities — and your number one responsibility is safety.”

The Solid North fleet — over 200 buses — has been suspended for 30 days as authorities investigate their vehicles’ roadworthiness and compliance with driver regulations.

The driver in the SCTEX crash reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. Dizon said they are probing whether labor rules for drivers were violated.

“Our rules clearly state a maximum of six driving hours per day. Did Solid North comply with that? That’s what we’re investigating,” he said.

When asked whether companies are still required to pay drivers even during rest periods, Dizon responded, “They are responsible for their employees. While not all drivers are at fault, the government cannot sit idly by while these companies neglect vehicle maintenance and driver welfare.”

No more excuses

As for the recurring road crashes — most of them fatal — Dizon said it’s time for the government and private operators to stop pretending they’re unaware of how some vehicles manage to pass inspection.

“We’ve already formed a task force to study the problem,” he said. “But let’s be honest — do these buses, these jeepneys, really undergo proper roadworthiness checks? Or do they get cleared because of bribes from bus or jeepney operators? We all know the truth. Let’s stop pretending.”

With a minimum of 50 passengers per bus, plus the other vehicles they may hit during collisions, Dizon emphasized the severity of the situation.