LTFRB SUSPENDS OPERATIONS OF FLORIDA BUSES INVOLVED IN ROAD RACING INCIDENT

In line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to ensure passenger safety nationwide, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has preventively suspended the operations of the Florida buses involved in the viral road racing incident on Cagayan national highway on June 8.

LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the LTFRB has ordered the preventive suspension of the GV Florida Transport Inc. buses for 30 days due to “employing reckless drivers.”

The LTFRB likewise issued a show cause order to GV Florida Transport Inc. to justify in writing why its Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) should not be suspended, cancelled, or revoked for employing reckless drivers.

Failure on the part of the bus company to file an answer before the scheduled hearing on June 25, 2025 and to attend the hearing shall be considered a waiver to be heard.

Within the 30-day preventive suspension, the drivers must undergo a Road Safety Seminar and the compulsory drug testing.

The company’s bus units should also pass the roadworthiness inspection to be conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) or an authorized vehicle inspection center.

According to Guadiz, Florida was directed to surrender the “For Hire Plates” of the units involved upon the receipt of the preventive suspension order.

If found operating as a public utility vehicle, the buses will be apprehended and impounded by the LTO Enforcement Division, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), and other traffic enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, in a press conference at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) office in San Juan City, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon  rejected the apology and explanation issued by Florida bus.

“Hindi porke’t walang nasaktan, walang nadisgrasya eh ganon na lang. I saw the statement and apology of the Florida Bus Company, and I’m telling them now, apology not accepted,” Dizon said.