Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Bus Liner, has released initial monetary assistance to the victims of the accident at the Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic “death curve” in Antique, which left 18 dead and 10 injured.
VTI set up help desks in the lobby of the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH) and at the Hamitic Municipal Police Station.
Each patient admitted at ASMGH received P 10, 000 from VTI, and the company pledged to reimburse all previous and future expenses until all patients make a full recovery, a press release from the Antique
Provincial Government said.
This includes hospitalization, medicine, food, as well as physical and psychological therapy if needed.
Meanwhile, 14 families of the deceased each claimed P50, 000 and an additional P40, 000 to the family of college student Ramon Enrique Salvani V, who already made funeral arrangements, the press release said.
Representatives of VTI said they are in contact with the families to discuss funeral costs and other expenses. They also said they are working on logistics to transport the bodies of the vacationing family from Koronadal City, South Cotabato and the foreign missionaries.
On the issue of transportation from Antique to Iloilo, 87 units are still in operation. These are units not included in the suspension order issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the press release said.
These units were instructed by the company to only pass through the Iloilo-Antique coastal road, via Tobias Fornier and Anini-y. No bus shall pass through the Iloilo-Antique mountain road, via Barangay Lindero, Hamtic.*