The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has directed the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) to immediately process and release insurance claims for victims of the recent multi-vehicle crash involving a Dagupan Bus unit operated by Solid North. The tragic incident near the Tarlac Exit Toll Plaza resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.
LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III emphasized the urgency of responding to the victims’ families, saying: “I instructed PAMI to immediately address the needs of those who are involved in the road crash. They should start identifying the dead bodies and indemnify the families—P400,000 for each deceased passenger.”
Under existing regulations, the insurance coverage for each deceased or injured passenger is capped at P400,000, while non-passenger victims, such as pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles, are eligible for up to P200,000.
The LTFRB also issued a preventive suspension order (PSO) suspending 15 units operated by Dagupan Bus Co. Inc. for 30 days under Case No. CO-EB-2025-04-058. The affected buses ply the Lingayen–Cubao route and include units bearing plate numbers UVK-971, UVK-951, UVK-961, and others.
According to an initial report from the Tarlac Police Provincial Office, a Solid North bus (VEH5) caused the crash by failing to stop, leading to a chain-reaction collision involving four other vehicles. All vehicles sustained major damage, and the injured were rushed to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital.
Legal scrutiny and public accountability are expected to intensify as authorities probe operational lapses and demand rapid compliance with indemnity obligations. The swift processing of insurance claims is seen as a test of industry responsiveness in the wake of mounting safety concerns.
