2013 Manila Skyway bus accident

The 2013 Manila Skyway bus accident occurred on December 16, 2013 near Bicutan Exit of South Luzon Expressway in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines, after a bus fell off the Skyway, crushing a delivery van and fatally wounding the van's driver.[1] 18 people died and 20 others were injured.[2] The Highway Patrol Group-National Capital Region-South Luzon Expressway described the incident as the worst to have happened along the Skyway.[3]

2013 Manila Skyway bus accident
Parañaque Parañaque (Philippines)
Details
Date	December 16, 2013 around 5:15 AM PST
Location	West Service Road, Parañaque, Metro Manila
Country	Philippines
Operator	Don Mariano Transit Corporation
Cause	Over speeding
Statistics
Passengers	42
Deaths	18
Injuries	20
Damage	2 (a bus and a van)

Accident

The accident occurred in the Manila suburb of Parañaque at around 5:15 AM (PST).[4] The bus, bound for Pacita Complex in San Pedro, Laguna, was traveling on the Skyway, one of the longest flyovers in the world that runs above the South Luzon Expressway. The bus fell six meters from the Skyway and crashed on top of a van that was on a service road below.[5] Eighteen passengers of the bus were killed. The driver of the bus, Carmelo Catlatcat, was not killed.[6] As a result of the accident, traffic was slowed down on the highway.[7]

Investigation

The company that owned and operated the bus, Don Mariano Transit, had to suspend transit for thirty days for an investigation into the accident to be carried out. The Department of Transportation and Communications required the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to suspend all of the 78 buses that Don Mariano Transit owned. The driver of the bus, Carmelo Catlatcat, had to undergo a drug test.[8] An audit of over 400,000 public utility buses was executed in Manila following the accident.[9] The driver and operator of the bus faced charges by the authorities.[10]

The Department of Labor and Employment admitted that Don Mariano Transit Corporation's Labor Standards Compliance Certificate was expired since July 2013.[11] It was also reported that Don Mariano Transit did not pay its drivers their monthly salary.[12]

The bus driver, Carmelo Catlatcat, tested positive for drug use. Chief Superintendent Arrazad Subong of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol group said that the drug test was somehow irrelevant as their investigation showed that the bus a few moments before the accident occurred had worn out tires and was overspeeding. The driver faced criminal charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple injuries and damage to property. If convicted, he may face at least six years of imprisonment but due to the number of fatalities caused by the accident the driver may face life imprisonment instead.[3]

Reaction

Jason Cantil, legal counsel for Don Mariano Transit, said that the accident was an isolated incident. Cantil said that the tires of the bus involved may not have been inspected but claimed that all other buses of the company were in good condition.[13]

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. encouraged public utility vehicles to use speed-limiting or monitoring devices. He said that such devices would help bus operators to prevent accidents similar to the skyway accident. Coloma added that it is up to legislators to come up with a law mandating operators to install such devices to their vehicles. Coloma also reiterated the government's preference for allowing the private sector to operate public transport as it is more efficient. He said the government's role is to regulate the private sector.[14]

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board plans to make the installation of speed-limiting devices on public utility vehicles as a response to the accident.[3] The Department of Labor and Employment vowed to monitor labor law compliance more strictly.[15]

See also

• 2013 Atimonan road crash

References

1. "Philippines bus crash kills 21". BBC. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
2. Mogato, Manuel. "Commuter bus crashes off Philippine highway onto van, 22 dead: police". Reuters. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
3. Gov’t mulls speed limit devices for PUVs | Manila Bulletin | Latest Breaking News | News Philippines
4. "Bus falls off freeway, kills 15 in Philippines". CNN. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
5. Placido, Dharel. "Don Mariano bus falls off Skyway; scores dead". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
6. "Philippines bus plunges off highway, killing 22". AFP via The Australian. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
7. "Skyway accident affects EDSA traffic". ABS-CBN. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
8. "Driver of ill-fated Don Mariano bus to undergo drug test". GMA News. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
9. Gomez, Lailany. "Bus crash triggers audit of PUBs". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
10. Cahinhinan, John. "Driver, bus operator to face raps over Skyway accident". Sun Star. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
11. "DOLE releases holiday pay rules - Silobreaker". Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
12. Don Mariano Transit’s drivers were not paid monthly salaries – LTFRB | News | GMA News Online
13. "Don Mariano Transit: Skyway bus crash an 'isolated' incident". GMA News Online. December 17, 2013.
14. "Palace wants speed monitoring devices on PUVs after Skyway accident | Sun.Star". Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
15. After bus accident, DOLE vows stricter monitoring of labor law compliance | News | GMA News Online