PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon to study proposals to amend insurance policies for public utility vehicles (PUVs) and private cars, Malacañang announced Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
The directive follows calls to align private vehicle insurance coverage with that of PUVs, amid a string of fatal road accidents that renewed concerns over insufficient compensation for victims and their families.
“The President has directed Secretary Vince Dizon to study carefully the proposal on higher insurance coverage of PUVs,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a mix of Tagalog and English during a briefing in Malacañang.
“This is to provide more protection to those who may fall victim to negligence or road accidents,” she added.
No timeline has been set for the completion of the study.
Castro said the Palace acknowledges growing calls for equitable and responsive insurance coverage for all vehicle types.
Under the current Passenger Personal Accident Insurance policy, passengers of buses and other PUVs are entitled to up to P400,000 in case of death due to road crashes, and P100,000 for injuries.
In contrast, passengers of private vehicles are covered by a total of only P200,000, regardless of the number of victims. The amount is divided among all fatalities and injured individuals.
The disparity was underscored by the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines following high-profile accidents, such as the December 2024 Katipunan Flyover crash, which killed four people and injured 25 others.
According to the group, only P200,000 was released in total for all victims, leaving bereaved families and injured passengers with minimal compensation.
A similar outcome was reported in a multi-vehicle crash on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, where 10 people died. / PNA