Bus rams into jeep, kills 7 people in star tollway

**desert fox** · January 4th, 2011 08:23 PM

Mga opisyal ng Star Tollway ipapatawag
Ni Arnell Ozaeta (Pilipino Star Ngayon) Updated January 04, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)

BATANGAS , Philippines — Ipapatawag ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Batangas ang pamunuan ng Southern Tagalog Arterial Road o StarTollway para pag-usapan ang paglalagay ng karagdagang safety measures sa kahabaan ng tollway at maiwasan na ang pagbubuwis ng buhay sa nasabing lansangan.
Nag-ugat ang panawagan ni Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto at Vice Governor Mark Leviste matapos maganap na naman ang trahedya sa Startollway kahapon kung saang 7-katao ang nasawi at 4 iba pa ang nasugatan.
“Kailangang damihan ang paglalagay ng speed limit sa tollway at ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad nito. Kasama na rin dito ang pagdidisiplina sa mga reckless driver na kung umasta ay mga hari sa lansangan,” pahayag ni Gov. Vi.
Ayon naman kay Vice Governor Mark Leviste, sa kabila ng paulit-ulit na request sa pamunuan ng Star Tollway na maglagay ng mga safety nets tulad ng paglalagay ng CCTV at mga signages na nagbabawal ng hindi naka seat belt, paggamit ng cell phone, no-overtaking at pagmamaneho ng lasing ay nanatili itong hindi naisasagawa.
Magugunitang nasawi ang pitong magkakamag-anak kamakalawa ng hapon matapos sumalpok ang sinasakyan nilang jeepney sa pampasaherong bus na umobertake sa kotse sa may KM 98 sa Barangay Quilo, sa bayan ng Ibaan, Batangas.
Samantala, nanatili pa rin sa Batangas Regional Hospital ang mga sugatang sina Frank Ace Festijo, Marilyn Festijo, Annabel Festijo at si Aaron Festijo.

**desert fox** · January 4th, 2011 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by digitalron

Will the application of a speed limiter on buses really have no chance in this country filled with irresponsible bus drivers? I mean, even SLEX has a lane for trucks and buses, and yet buses regularly wander on all lanes overtaking me and other cars even while I'm doing 90-100 kph already. With all the accidents (remember 2009?) happening involving buses, I hope the LTO grows more gonads than a eunuch to ensure the safety of smaller vehicles from these monster buses.

Dapat lagyan ng CCTV,yung mga buses and trucks na mahuhuli sa camera na gumamit ng far left lanes o fast lanes, nakatimbre na sa lahat ng exit points...lakihan ang multa para matakot..

sa mga maliliit na sasakyan naman, akala ng iba, kahit na tumakbo ng 40kph, ok lang sa highway.....tapos nasa fast lane pa....

**pista_ni_jon** · January 5th, 2011 12:34 AM

what a way to start the family's new year. rip to the casualties...

**170kphlang** · January 5th, 2011 12:41 AM

lesson 101 ito palagi: HUWAG O-OVERTAKE SA KALYENG KURBADA [particularly sa blind curve].

ito madalas na ginagawa ng karamihan, lalo na mga motor.

**Monseratto** · January 5th, 2011 04:42 PM

Big bus firm heavy handed approach...

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/re...cident-victims

GASAT Express blackmailing Star Toll accident victims?
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 01/05/2011 3:23 PM | Updated as of 01/05/2011 3:23 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Police said on Wednesday that relatives of the 7 people killed in the Star Tollway accident refused to press charges because the bus firm, GASAT Express, has threatened to hold their financial assistance.

This was revealed by Senior Police Officer 4 Nelio Lopez, deputy chief of Ibaan police in Batangas, when asked during an interview on radio dzMM why they released GASAT Express driver Aurelio Doctora.

"Ang pamilya ay walang pera at kung ihahabla daw ay titigil sa pagtulong ang may-ari ng bus," Lopez said, quoting a lawyer representing the relatives of the victims.

He said that due to family's failure to file charges, they were forced to release Doctora. The bus driver was released at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Lopez said that the victims' lawyer also urged the police not to file charges against the bus driver and the bus firm.

"Iyon ang sabi ng abogado ng pamilya. Nakiusap na 'wag nang ihabla dahil 'pag hinabla, titigil ang pagsuporta at walang pagkukunan ng pampalibing at pangpagamot pa," the local police official said.

He, however, said that they will still push through with the filing of charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against the driver.

GASAT's franchise likely to be revoked

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Nelson Laluces told radio dzMM in a separate interview that the bus firm's franchise is likely to be revoked due to initial findings that the unit involved was out of line.

Laluces added that if the bus firm dodges the franchise revocation, it may still face up to one year suspension because of the accident.

He said GASAT Express, owned by Rose Valisno, has at least 50 units, and only 17 of its units were covered by the initial suspension order issued by the LTFRB.

He added that Valisno holds 5 bus franchises involving more than 100 units.

He said the LTFRB is currently studying the records of GASAT Express and other bus lines owned by Valisno. He said that depending on the results of the review, they may suspend the whole fleet of buses owned by Valisno.

Laluces, meanwhile, said the LTFRB will conduct its first franchise hearing regarding the Star Tollway accident on January 11. It may be able to come up with a decision after 60 days

**digitalron** · January 5th, 2011 04:53 PM

There should be a law where the government will shoulder the assistance for victims of public utility vehicle crashes, which leaves the PUV owners with no leverage against the victims. Then, the PUV involved will also be fined wherein the fine goes to the government, part of which is used to maintain a revolving fund where the monetary assistance is taken.

This could be extended to cover airlines and passenger ships as well, otherwise... what family would dare press charges?

Besides this, PUV firms involved in accidents should be made to shoulder a much higher franchise renewal fee as well as be obligated to carry more comprehensive insurance.

**toybug** · January 5th, 2011 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by 170kphlang

lesson 101 ito palagi: HUWAG O-OVERTAKE SA KALYENG KURBADA [particularly sa blind curve].

ito madalas na ginagawa ng karamihan, lalo na mga motor.

+1 on this one!

**A121** · January 5th, 2011 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by ben_david19

i don't want to blame anyone, pero kapag nagkarambulan sa ganitong pangyayari, lahat ay may sala hindi lang yung nag-overtake. dapat yung 3 parties palagi ay magbibigay ng courtesy, ganun ang highway driver. magkaiba ang highway driving kesa sa city driving na walang bigayan tandaan niyo tsikoteers.

1. kasalubong (jeep)
2. the one being overtaken (car)
3. the one who performs overtaking (bus)

wala tayo sa pangyayari, pero assume ko hindi naman mag-oovertake siguro yung bus kung malapit na talaga yung kasalubong. dapat kabisado rin ng driver kung kaya nga ba niyang um-overtake in the shortest period of time na hindi siya pagbibigyan ng mga nasa harap niya.

ngayon, habang umo-overtake ang bus, yung oovertake-an (sentra) dapat paunahin na niya yung nag-oovertake. ang mga iba kasi lalo pang binibilisan kaya nadidisgrasya yun bang tipong ayaw magpauna.

hindi ka naman oovertake-an kung mabilis ka, at kung tingin mo mabilis ka na at may gusto pa rin mauna sa iyo, paunahin mo lang kapag nasa kabilang lane na siya (just release the pedal no need to apply brakes).

yung kasalubong (jeep), dapat magbigay rin ng courtesy, hindi porke nasa right of way, lalo kang haharurot. just release the accelerator pedal too just to slow down a bit, kailangan bigyan ng pagkakataon yung umo-overtake palagi dahil kapag nagrambulan kayo wala nang right of way pagdating sa kamatayan. kapag medyo malapit ka na, tsaka ka mag-apply ng brakes at medyo gumilid sa hanggang saan mo makakaya. kahit naman ikaw gusto mong mapagbigyan hindi ba kapag ikaw ang umo-overtake.

Nice observations. Dapat talaga focus sa pagmamaneho. Be a safe, responsible and defensive driver.

**Starex_Gold** · January 5th, 2011 08:32 PM

Hindi na rin dapat padaanin ang buses dyan sa STAR Tollway.

Dapat gawin na yung opposite lane!

Palagi kong napapansin, tuwing humahataw kami diyan, nakikipag sabayan pa yung mga new model buses (Golden Dragon, Yutong, etc) *130-140km/h.

“Kailangang damihan ang paglalagay ng speed limit sa tollway at ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad nito. Kasama na rin dito ang pagdidisiplina sa mga reckless driver na kung umasta ay mga hari sa lansangan,” pahayag ni Gov. Vi.

Sinong marunong sumunod sa speed limit?