There are over 12-14 million daily commuters in Metro Manila, including residents, workers, and visitors, with approximately 15-20% relying on city and provincial buses for their trips.
However, the already strained transport system faces further pressure as more than 200 bus units will not be able to travel since Pangasinan Solid North Transit Inc.’s preventive suspension was issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
This is due to the road accident on May 1 involving a Pangasinan Solid North bus (Cubao-Lingayen route) in a multi-vehicle crash on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) resulting in 10 deaths and 37 others injured.
The driver Teodoro Merjan, who tested negative for both alcohol and drugs, is now prohibited from driving any type of vehicle since the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has permanently revoked his license.
Merjan is facing multiple counts of homicide, frustrated murder, and physical injuries after dozing off while driving, speeding, and eventually crashing into four vehicles.
Long hours, low pay
Following the Pangasinan Solid North 30-day suspension, two of its bus drivers have tested positive in a mandatory drug testing conducted by the LTO.
Due to the rigorous working hours of bus drivers every day, this circumstance is not a rare case.
Virgilio Sabanal Jr. is a 49-year-old San Fabian, Pangasinan-Cubao bus driver from CISCO for more than a year as of writing. Sabanal said that a lot of provincial bus drivers have two- or three-way travel per day, ranging from four to six hours each trip. CISCO Bus Co. is a subsidiary of the Five Star Bus Company.
“‘Yung 2-ways at 3-ways ay balikan sa isang araw. 2-ways lang ang biyahe namin kasi malayo ngayon ang San Fabian. Mga 6 hours sabihin na natin,” Sabanal told Manila Today.
A two-way bus route, also known as a round-trip, is a fixed path that buses follow from origin to destination.
He added that they have enough rest between trips. “Halimbawa ngayon, kanina pa akong alas 9 [AM] nandiyan. Bibiyahe ako alas 3 [PM] ngayon. Matagal-tagal din.”
However, a much-needed break for drivers is not always available to them, especially when bus terminals are bombarded by commuters during holidays.
Antonio Ulgado, 57, a Pasay-Baguio bus driver from Victory Liner Inc., said that there are times when they have to drive back-to-back trips.
“Minsan kasi nagpipihit-pihit kami ‘pag kulang ang bus… ‘Yung pagkarating mo rito, ikaw ulit pipila at bibiyahe. Wala nang… hindi ka nakapahinga,” Ulgado told Manila Today.
Only drivers with more than 10 hours of driving time get a reliever during the trip.
Joy Magdaraog, who drives a Cubao-Bicol route for Raymond Transportation Inc., said that they practice alternate turns in driving during the whole 13-hour trip.
“Bawat isang bus, tatlong empleyado yan. Dalawang driver, isang conductor… Halimbawa dito, ako magdadrive. Pagdating ng bandang Quezon, siya naman, tutulog ako,” Magdaraog told Manila Today.
In addition to bus drivers’ long hours of work with little to no rest, they also experience issues in salary. Some drivers rely on commissions and incentives to make money.
Sabanal, a reliever driver, gets a base pay of 500 pesos upon reaching their quota, plus a commission depending on their earnings for the day.
“Sa ngayon, kasi hindi kami basic eh. Porsyentuhan kami sa ruta. Kapag naka-quota naman kami, meron na kami automatic 500 sa ATM. Tapos, halimbawang nakapasada kami ng P40,000, ‘yung porsyento namin nasa P1.900,” he said.
“Sa 12 oras na ‘yun, na papunta at pabalik natin. Bali, parang commission-based. Commission-based lang kami,” Sabanal added.
These factors constitute the current working environment for employees in the Philippine bus industry. For drivers, fatigue is compounded by financial pressures.
Collateral damage
Pangasinan Solid North Transit, Inc., simply known as the Solid North bus, is a subsidiary of Jac Liner Inc.
It has regular trips from Cubao to San Carlos City, Dagupan, Bolinao, PITX to Baguio, Cabanatuan to Baguio, Bayambang to Baguio, and Dagupan to Baguio.
Solid North’s involvement in a multi-vehicle collision resulting in multiple casualties and physical injuries has resulted in civil cases worth P130 million in total damages.
Transport Secretary Vince Dizon said in a statement that the family of Jonjon and Daina Janica Alinas is seeking P50 million in damages for the deaths of their family members, their loss of income, as well as moral and exemplary damages.
Other families of the victims also filed a civil case in an Antipolo City court, seeking P80 million in damages.
This suspension also poses problems for Solid North drivers and conductors.
Sabanal said, “Syempre mawalan sila ng hanapbuhay, gutom ng pamilya. Kawawa nga sila kung tutuusin.”
“Napakahirap. Saan tayo kukuha ng pagpapaaral, sa kakainin sa araw-araw eh dito lang kami nabubuhay sa pagmamaneho kaya nakakaawa yung mga Solid North drivers,” Ulgado stated.
Road to reform
The multi-vehicle collision on SCTEX has reopened talks on ongoing safety concerns in the Philippine bus transportation sector, particularly regarding driver working conditions and compensation structures.
When asked about what would be needed to improve the working conditions of Filipino bus drivers, Ulgado answered long rest periods.
“Mahabang pahinga. ‘Yun ang kailangan namin, mahabang pahinga. Kasi kaya nangyayari ‘yung ganyan, ‘yung antok, pagod. Kaya kailangan, mabigyan ng mahabang pahinga,” he said.
Transportation Secretary Dizon admitted that the current system of transportation is not fit for the needs of the commuters.
“Clearly, the status quo is not working. We have all failed, government and bus companies, we have all failed the commuting public and we all have to share the burden and do something about it,” Secretary Dizon said in a statement.
DOTr has already implemented a mandatory drug testing for all public utility (PUV) drivers every 90 days.
Drivers will also now be limited to driving for only four hours, instead of the previous six-hour maximum. Trips longer than that will now require a reliever driver.
On the other hand, PISTON National President Mody Floranda criticized the prevailing policies that promote more private car ownership rather than prioritize public transport. According to Floranda, billions of subsidies are given to car manufacturers while little is allocated for mass-oriented programs for a means of safe public transport and infrastructure for commuters.
“Hindi ito mga aksidente. Ang kumitil ng buhay ng mga inosenteng bata at pamilya ay ang deka-dekadang kriminal na pagpapabaya ng gobyerno sa sistema ng transportasyon,” Floranda wrote on Facebook.
Transport group PISTON also released an online statement calling for reform of policies on liveable wages for workers, job security, and decent working conditions.
“Tiyaking sapat ang kinikita ng mga drayber upang hindi na sila mapilitang magtrabaho nang sobra sa kanilang pisikal na kakayahan, may benepisyo at proteksyon, at hindi pinarurusahan dahil sa kapalpakan ng isang di-makatarungang polisiya sa transportasyon,” PISTON said.
