Cheyenne Suarez

DOTr-SAICT conducts random 'roadworthiness check' on buses in QC

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — </p><p>p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 20.0px &#x27;Helvetica Neue&#x27;; min-height: 25.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px &#x27;Helvetica Neue&#x27;; min-height: 15.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px &#x27;Helvetica Neue&#x27;}</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>The Department of Transportation Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) conducted a random &#x27;road worthiness check&#x27; on public buses along NIA South Road in Quezon City, early morning of Friday, January 31, 2025.</p><div> </div><p>The operation prioritized the inspection of public utility buses that accommodate many passengers on a single ride.</p><div> </div><p>&quot;Ito pa ang inuna natin sapagkat ito po &#x27;yung mas maraming naisasakay na pasahero. So kailangan natin masiguro na ang ating mga kababayan ay nagkakaroon ba ng ligtas na paglalakbay sa tuwing sila ay sasakay sa ating mga pampublikong bus,&quot; Reyson Dela Torre, DOTr-SAICT Special Operations Group - Officer-in-charge, said.</p><div><br/></div><p>(We did this first because buses can transport more passengers. So we need to make sure people are safe everytime they ride public buses.) </p><div> </div><p>DOTr-SAICT took the chance to inspect the condition of the lights, tires, and brakes of some buses. The quality of fire extinguishers was also checked, even the stickers posted inside the vehicle for priority passengers.</p><div> </div><p>&quot;Iniinspeksyon po natin &#x27;yung kanilang kapasidad. &#x27;Yung kanilang mga dokumento, kanilang mga kagamitan, kung ito ba ay gumagana,&quot; Dela Torre mentioned.</p><div><br/></div><p>(We’re inspecting their capacity. Their documents, their gear, if these work.)</p><div> </div><p>&quot;Kung mayroon po tayong makikitang paglabag, ito naman po ay ating titiketan kaagad, or kung hindi man po matiketan ay ipapa-show cause order po natin sa LTO at LTFRB &#x27;yung mismong operator para ito po ay magbigay ng kanilang pagpapaliwanag sa nakita nating violation sa kanilang sasakyan,&quot; he added.</p><div> </div><p>(If we see violations, we will issue a ticket right away or if not, we will issue a show cause order from LTO and LTFRB to the operator so they can explain the reason for the violations.)</p><div><br/></div><p>Dela Torre then emphasized the importance of a &#x27;road worthiness check&#x27; for the safety of every passenger.</p><div> </div><p>&quot;Ang isinasakay po nito ay buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Kailangan po ay mapanatili nating ligtas sapagkat ito po ay araw-araw nilang ginagamit,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><p>(We carry the lives of people. We need to maintain the safety because they use these everyday.)</p><div><br/></div><p>WHAT BUS DRIVERS AND OPERATORS SHOULD CHECK REGULARLY</p><div> </div><p>The DOTr-SAICT also reminded bus drivers to always check the condition of their vehicle before fetching passengers.</p><div> </div><p>&quot;Bago sila umalis ng kanilang garahe ay inspeksyunin muna &#x27;yung kanilang mga sasakyan sapagkat marami po tayong napapansin, minsan nga &#x27;yung simpleng paglilinis na lang nung mismong sasakyan ay hindi na nga nagagawa,&quot; Dela Torre said.</p><div><br/></div><p>(Before they leave the garage then need to inspect the vehicles because we notice several things, sometimes they cant even keep the vehicles clean.)</p><div> </div><p>Expired fire extinguishers and buses that have no priority passenger stickers were the common recorded violations during their past operations.</p><div> </div><p>&quot;Ang nakita po naming doon sa ginawa naming dalawang araw na inspeksyon nung Sabado at Linggo, doon sa mga provincial buses, ay &#x27;yun pong kanilang mga fire extinguisher na mga expired na. Mayroon din po tayong nakitang bus na wala pong sticker para po sa mga priority passengers,&quot; Dela Torre shared.</p><div><br/></div><p>(What we saw the last two days of inspections over the weekend, in the provincial buses, is their expired fire xtinguishers. We also saw a bus that did not have a sticker for pirority passengers.)</p><div><br/></div><p>GOOD FOR SAFETY</p><div> </div><p>Some bus drivers approved the initiative of the government for safety reasons.</p><div> </div><p>&quot;Okay lang din po sa amin para sa kaligtasan.
&#x27;Yung iba kasing mga bus bumabiyahe walang signal light, marami pong ibang wala, kaya tama lang po ito,&quot; Jun Mercado, a bus driver, said.</p><div><br/></div><p>(It’s ok for our safety.)</p><p>(Other buses travel without a signal light, and other things are missing, so we think this inspection is fine.)</p><div> </div><p>In total, 42 buses were inspected during the operation. Most of the bus were taking Fairview-San Jose Del Monte route going to EDSA Kamuning, and Cubao-Antipolo route. Tickets were issued to nine drivers for different violations, while four buses were restricted to accommodate passengers due to defective parts. Eight other buses were recommended to the Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for the issuance of a show cause order.</p><div> </div><p>The DOTr-SAICT will continue to conduct &#x27;road worthiness checks&#x27; on different terminals in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.</p>

<p>The Department of Transportation Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) conducted a random 'road worthiness check' on public buses along NIA South Road in Quezon City, early morning of Friday, January 31, 2025.</p>

The Department of Transportation Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) conducted a random 'road worthiness check' on public buses along NIA South Road in Quezon City, early morning of Friday, January 31, 2025.