LTFRB grounds bus firm in SCTEx mishap

The Board said it will issue the order grounding the bus fleet of Jumbo Transport following an accident wherein one of its buses collided with a truck, killing five persons and injuring 49 others. (File Photo: Jumbo Transit Inc./Facebook)

MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced on Friday that it will issue a preventive suspension order against a bus company whose unit figured in an accident along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) in Concepcion, Tarlac last January 31.

The Board said it will issue the order grounding the bus fleet of Jumbo Transport following an accident wherein one of its buses collided with a truck, killing five persons and injuring 49 others.

“The immediate action of LTFRB is to assist the victims of the tragic accident,” the Board said in a statement.

The insurance company initially released PHP400,000 to cover the insurance assistance of victims pending verification of all claims.

LTFRB data showed that Jumbo Transport has a tourist bus franchise with 10 units as of July 5, 2016 with its route operating from Las Piñas City to any point of Luzon. Its franchise expires on December 10, 2021.

The LTFRB is set to hear the case on February 12.

Police reports said a tourist bus bound for Baguio City collided with a cargo truck along SCTEx early Thursday morning.

The bus passengers were mostly members of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Sangguniang Kabataan of Naic, Cavite.