PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has provided P20,000 worth of financial assistance to each beneficiary of the 19 passengers of the Dimple Star Transport bus killed in a vehicular accident in Sablayan town, Occidental Mindoro last March 20.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the President distributed the monetary aid when he paid a visit to the wake of some of the fatalities on Friday, March 23.
He said those injured also received P10,000 each and a cellphone from Duterte.
"The President gave P20,000 to each family of the deceased and P10,000 plus cellphone for every injured," Roque said.
The assistance was on top of the insurance the victims would receive from the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance (Pami) agency this coming Monday, March 26.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier announced that the fatalities was insured for up to P200,000 each, while those who sustained injuries would receive P20,000 each.
"Per the LTFRB, starting Monday, March 26, the families of those who died would directly be receiving P200,000 while those injured will receive P20,000 from the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance agency," Roque said.
Duterte on Friday visited the crash site of a bus mishap in Occidental Mindoro where 19 individuals were confirmed dead.
His visit prompted him to order the arrest of the operator of Dimple Star Transport, following the deadly crash that involved one of its buses. The owner of the bus company immediately surrendered to authorities shortly after the President's order.
Prior to Duterte's directive, the LTFRB suspended the operations of 118 buses of Dimple Star Transport for 30 days.
Roque said the LTFRB would schedule a hearing on April 18 to heed the President's order to cancel the franchise of Dimple Star Transport.
"We are concerned with the safety of the commuting public especially with the anticipated exodus of travelers this Lenten season," Roque said.
"Thus, the President has directed transport officials to ensure the safety of Filipinos traveling to the provinces during his visit to Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, where he personally expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims and checked the injured of the bus crash," he added. (SunStar Philippines)