A bus operated by Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) veered off a ravine on December 5, 2023, at KM 174, Igbucay, Hamtic, Antique, resulting in at least 12 deaths, including nine passengers and three crew members.
The accident occurred around 4:30 PM as Ceres bus number 6289, carrying 24 passengers, traveled from Iloilo to Culasi. VTI expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and has pledged to assist with medical and burial expenses.
The area where the accident occurred is known for being hazardous, with a history of similar incidents. In response to the tragedy, VTI has temporarily suspended operations of 12 units under the same franchise, pending an investigation in coordination with the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6.
VTI’s management has reported the incident to the LTFRB and is cooperating with authorities. The company has dispatched a team of managers, operations personnel, liaison officers, and nurses to provide assistance at the scene and hospitals. Personnel are also on standby for further updates and assistance.
The company assures the public that it is taking necessary steps to ensure its buses are road-worthy and well-maintained, and is committed to handling the situation with due care and responsibility.
Vallacar’s statement:
Vallacar Transit, Inc. would like to express its most heartfelt apologies to those who were involved in the incident. We would also like to send our sincerest condolences to the bereaved families.
Last December 5, 2023, at around 4:30 in the afternoon, at KM 174, Igbucay, Hamtic, Antique, Ceres bus number 6289 was involved in an incident which led to the death and injuries of the passengers, as well as the driver, conductor, and inspector.
The bus, which was carrying 24 passengers, was on its way to Culasi from Iloilo when it accidentally fell off a ravine resulting to serious injuries and casualties among the occupants of the bus.
The area is known to be accident-prone, with numerous vehicles falling off therein in the past. As per confirmation, there are 12 confirmed casualties at the moment, nine of which are passengers, and the remaining three being our bus driver, conductor, and line inspector. VTI’s Branch, Admin, and Maintenance Managers, Operations Personnel, Liaison Officers, and nurses from both the West and East branches were immediately dispatched to the location of the incident to assist the victims.
VTI has reported the incident to the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board immediately, and is willing to cooperate with any investigations they will be conducting. In coordination with the LTFRB Region 6, the management has decided to voluntarily suspend all operations of the 12 remaining units under the franchise involving Case No. 11-VI-021-AK pending investigation, wherein the bus involved in the incident had been a part of.
VTI will be providing financial assistance to the passengers and their families, as well as shouldering the medical and burial expenses. The management has assigned personnel to be on stand-by at the hospital for further updates and assistance.
Rest assured that we are doing everything that we can to make sure that this is being handled properly and carefully. The management guarantees the riding public that we are taking all the appropriate steps to ensure that our buses are road-worthy and well-maintained.