Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Public Services Committee, conducted random inspections of Metro Manila bus terminals alongside officials from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The inspection was held ahead of the anticipated rise in travelers returning to their provinces for Todos Los Santos or All Saints’ Day.
During the inspection, Tulfo discovered numerous violations in bus terminals set to transport passengers to provincial destinations.
Tulfo noted that several buses lacked emergency exits on windows, and some that had them were missing emergency glass break hammers.
The senator highlighted past incidents in which only drivers and conductors survived bus accidents, while passengers were trapped inside, making rescue efforts difficult.
Tulfo recommended that bus operators be required to provide hand-held metal detectors for security guards to screen passengers and prevent firearms or knives from being brought onboard.
He also suggested that the LTO and LTFRB give all buses and terminals one week to address these violations for strict compliance; if not, their operations could be suspended, and franchises canceled.
The agencies reportedly agreed to Tulfo’s recommendations.
Additionally, Tulfo proposed that the LTO closely monitor drivers with multiple moving violations, mandate safety seminars for them, and suspend licenses when violations become excessive to minimize accident risk.