2017 Tanay bus accident
| 2017 Tanay bus accident | |
|---|---|
.svg)  Location in Luzon .svg) Location in the Philippines | |
| Details | |
| Date | February 20, 2017 8:45 am (PST) |
| Location | Tanay, Rizal |
| Coordinates | 14°29′50″N 121°17′11″E / 14.49722°N 121.28639°E |
| Country | Philippines |
| Operator | Panda Coach Tours and Transport Inc. |
| Cause | Brakes failed |
| Statistics | |
| Passengers | 50[1] |
| Deaths | 15 (14 passengers + driver) |
| Injured | At least 40 |
A tourist bus carrying 50 passengers, mostly students from Bestlink College of the Philippines in Quezon City who were on a field trip, lost its brakes and crashed into an electricity pole in Tanay, Rizal, killing 15 passengers including the driver.
The accident uncovered lax regulations on safety of students on educational trips in the Philippines and prompted the Commission on Higher Education and Department of Education to issue moratoriums on field trips for the 2016–17 school year.[2] After the moratorium, stricter guidelines on off-campus activities were imposed.
Accident
[edit]A tourist bus (no. 8), operated by Panda Coach Tours and Transport Inc., transporting around 50 college students from Bestlink College of the Philippines who are in the field trip destined to a camping site in Rizal.[1] According to Erwin Gascon of the Tanay police station, the bus was travelling to Sitio Bayucal in Barangay Sampaloc in Tanay, Rizal when it lost its brakes and bumped into the electricity pole around 8:45 am, killing 15 passengers (13 students and a teacher) and including a driver named Julian Lacorda Jr.[3] in the process, and injuring about 40 others. One passenger later died in a hospital a day after the accident.[1][4] The town government said that the bus driver deliberately hit the post as the braking method.[1] causing a large portion of the bus to tear off and the pole to topple onto the bus.[5][6] Moments before the accident, passengers allegedly noticed the smell of burning rubber.[7] However, the bus driver apparently ignored them.[8]
In an interview with DZMM, the bus representative, Johna Martires, said the company had already issued their insurance firm to take care of the needs of the victims.[4]
Reactions
[edit]Senators Tito Sotto and Bam Aquino sought a Senate investigation into accidents, finding to ensure the safety of the commuters amid road accidents.[9]
Aftermath
[edit]Moratorium on field trips
[edit]A day after the accident, the Commission on Higher Education imposed a moratorium on field trips and educational tours in all education levels to give the investigation of the accident.[10] A proposal made by Commissioner Prospero de Vera III to disable field trips in private and public colleges and universities until the investigation is made. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to suspend the operations of the bus company which is involved in an accident.[7] The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on February 22 that it will issue a moratorium on all levels until June 2017 following the accident.[11] It is revealed that another survivor said that the bus no. 8 was a substitute of Harana Tours bus that was initially assigned to them.[12]
On August 1, 2017, the Department of Tourism (DOT) called on academic institutions to arrange field trips only with DOT-accredited tour service providers.[13] On August 10, CHED lifted its moratorium.[14]
On December 27, 2017 DepEd lifted its own moratorium on field trips[15][16]
Field trip reforms
[edit]New guidelines on off-campus activities which includes field trips, and participation in conferences, sports competitions would be issued by both DepEd (which covers basic education students) and CHED (which covers collegiate students).
CHED's guidelines issued in August 2017, would require insurance, medical clearance for participants and safety certifications for vehicles to be used for such activities.[14]
DepEd Order No. 66 which lifted the moratorium on field trips and educational tours also covered new guidelines on the conduct of such matters. Part of the new regulations is requiring educational institutions to secure travel insurance for any off-campus activities.[16][17]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "13 students, 1 driver killed in Tanay bus accident". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ Uy, Jocelyn (February 24, 2017). "After CHEd, DepEd also suspends field trips". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "Bus crash death toll hits 15; teacher among dead".
- ^ a b "Tanay bus crash death toll rises to 15". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ "Death toll in Philippine bus crash climbs to 15". The Seattle Times. February 19, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Francisco, Katerina (February 20, 2017). "15 killed in Tanay bus crash". Rappler. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "15 dead in Tanay bus accident". The Philippine Star.
- ^ "Tanay survivor: Bus driver said 'Sorry, nawalan ng preno' before deadly crash". GMA News.
- ^ "Sotto, Aquino seek Senate probe into deadly Tanay bus crash". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ "CHED halts field trips, educational tours after Tanay bus crash". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ "DepEd stops school field trips until June after Tanay bus crash". Rappler.
- ^ "Tanay survivor: Bus No. 8 was only a replacement". GMA News.
- ^ "Tourism department pushes for tougher rules on student field trips". Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
- ^ a b Cepeda, Mara (August 10, 2017). "CHED lifts moratorium on field trips, off-campus activities". Rappler. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "DepEd Order No. 66: Implementing Guidelines on the Conduct of Off-Campus Activities". Supreme Court E-Library. Department of Education. December 27, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Cayubit, Restituto (January 2, 2018). "DepEd lifts moratorium on educational field trips". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Janvic (January 4, 2018). "DepEd lifts ban on field trips". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 9, 2024.