Families of two security guards who died in a road crash in Pasig City have expressed their gratitude to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II for facilitating the quick release of insurance payments.

The accident occurred on 14 October along Marcos Highway in Barangay Santolan, Pasig City. The victims, a male and a female security guard, were on their way home from work when their motorcycle crashed into a passenger jeepney making a U-turn. The impact threw both riders off the motorcycle, causing severe injuries. The female backrider was declared dead at the scene, while the male rider later died in the hospital.

Two days after the crash, on 16 October, the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) processed and released the insurance payments. PAMI President and CEO Bunny Atayde, represented by Operations Manager Bong Nocum, led the turnover of P100,000 to each of the victims’ families.

According to Mendoza, Secretary Lopez immediately directed the LTFRB to assist the victims’ families and ensure that the insurance claims were processed without delay. “We are thankful that the insurance company was very accommodating, ensuring the payment would be released in the soonest possible time,” Mendoza said. “This is in line with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s directive to extend assistance to our kababayans in need.”

In addition to the insurance payout, Mendoza personally provided an extra P25,000 to each family. He emphasized his advocacy for quick and sufficient insurance payments for road crash victims, citing how many families struggle with medical and burial expenses due to delayed claims.

“Let’s end the system where families fall into debt because of hospital expenses while waiting for unpaid insurance,” Mendoza said. “We will ensure that all insurance payments are complete and immediate, as instructed by the President.”

The victims’ siblings expressed their gratitude to Secretary Lopez and Chairman Mendoza for the prompt assistance. “Maraming salamat po kay Secretary Banoy at kay Chairman Vigor sa tulong na mapabilis ang proseso ng insurance, malaking tulong po ito para sa amin,” said Rodalyn de Jose, sister of one of the victims.

("Thank you very much to Secretary Banoy and Chairman Vigor for helping to speed up the insurance process, this is a big help for us.")

Another relative added, “Mula po sa aming pamilya, taos-puso po kaming nagpapasalamat sa DOTr at LTFRB sa tulong. Sana po ay magtuloy-tuloy ang ganitong klaseng tulong para sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan na katulad namin.”

("From our family, we sincerely thank the DOTr and LTFRB for their help. We hope this kind of help will continue for ordinary citizens like us.")