LTFRB Suspends 15 Buses Over Safety Concerns
AMAZING RACE? – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have suspended 15 buses of GV Florida Transport following a viral video that appeared to show a reckless race among the company’s buses along Diadi-Cordon Road in Nueva Vizcaya.
The footage, uploaded by concerned citizen Carlo Carbonel, sparked public concern and quickly circulated online. In the video, at least six GV Florida buses were seen seemingly speeding and overtaking one another in what looked like a race. Carbonel captioned the video: “Ginawang race track ng mga hari ng daan ang Diadi – Cordon road.” He clarified that six buses were involved, with two more trailing behind and trying to catch up.
While some online viewers defended the bus company, suggesting the video may have been time-lapsed and made the buses appear faster than they were, others insisted the drivers’ behavior was dangerous and unacceptable.
In response, GV Florida Transport released an official apology on its Facebook page, stating: “We sincerely apologize about the circulating issue regarding the fast forward footage posted by Carlo Carbonel. The content does not align with our company’s values and standards. We are currently addressing the matter internally and we assure the public that the safety and well-being of our passengers is our top priority.”
Despite this, on Tuesday, June 10, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that 15 of the company’s buses had been suspended due to the incident. The LTFRB is scheduled to conduct a formal hearing on June 15, during which the company must respond to the allegations. Additionally, the drivers involved will undergo mandatory drug testing as part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are two government agencies in the Philippines responsible for overseeing the country’s transportation systems, particularly public transportation.