ALL units of Pangasinan Solid North Transit have been ordered suspended for 30 days following the Labor Day deadly multi-vehicle crash along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), which claimed at least 10 lives and left several others injured.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced the suspension on Friday after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued an initial order suspending 15 units.
Now, the suspension covers the company’s entire fleet of nearly 300 buses, Dizon said.
“This is not limited to the route where the accident happened. The entire fleet of Pangasinan Solid North is suspended for 30 days,” the DoTR chief said in Filipino.
Dizon also directed the LTFRB to file criminal charges against the bus company and the driver involved in the accident.
He underscored that bus firms carry full responsibility for every passenger they transport.
During a meeting with over 20 bus companies, Dizon pushed for tighter regulations and safety enforcement. Bus operators agreed to implement stricter measures, including a six-hour daily driving limit for drivers, mandatory alcohol and drug testing, and clearer enforcement protocols.
The May 1 vehicular accident occurred when a Solid North bus operated by Dagupan Bus Co. plowed into four vehicles at the Tarlac City toll plaza.
