President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed a sweeping review and reform of the Philippine transport sector following recent deadly road accidents, including one in Tarlac that killed 10 people and another at the airport that claimed two more lives.
In a video statement on Monday, the president said he had ordered Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to conduct a nationwide audit of bus companies and penalize operators who fail to meet safety and maintenance standards.
“We must identify those responsible and put in place reforms to prevent more deaths,” Marcos said. He called for an end to practices that endanger both drivers and passengers, noting that fatigue, unrealistic quotas, and long hours are often behind tragic road mishaps.
The Department of Labor and Employment was also instructed to eliminate exploitative work conditions in the transport sector. Meanwhile, driver licensing procedures will undergo a review to ensure only qualified and responsible drivers are allowed on the road—whether behind the wheel of public or private vehicles.
“These lives will not be lost in vain. We will act not just with sympathy, but with resolve,” the president said.
The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway crash was reportedly caused by a truck driver who dozed off while driving. Days later, a driver at NAIA confused the gas and brake pedals, leading to another fatal accident. These incidents follow a string of road-related controversies that have drawn national attention, prompting the president to once again call for greater road discipline.
