The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) of the Philippines has mandated a temporary suspension of operations for 15 units of the Dagupan Bus Co., following a fatal incident at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll plaza.

This decision comes in the wake of a crash involving a Solid North bus that resulted in 10 fatalities and left at least 37 others injured.

The incident, which occurred near the Tarlac exit toll plaza, involved a bus from Solid North Transit Inc., a subsidiary of JAC Liner Inc., which acquired Dagupan Bus Co. The LTFRB's order prohibits the affected buses, operating under Certificate of Public Convenience 75-3266 servicing the Lingayen-Cubao route, from operating for 30 days.

The specific license plates of the suspended units include UVK-971, UVK-951, UVK-961, UVK-941, UVM-941, UVM-364, UVM-324, UVT-530, UVT-569, UVT-540, AAI-1901, DXN-476, ABE-2905, ABE-2906, and LZYTBTD69D1068034.

In response to the crash, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III ordered the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency (PAMI) to expedite insurance claims for victims, with deceased passengers entitled to P400,000 each, and non-passenger victims eligible for up to P200,000.

The operator of the affected bus company will need to conduct mandatory road safety seminars for its drivers, undergo drug testing for drivers and conductors, and complete comprehensive roadworthiness inspections for the suspended units.

Additionally, the LTFRB requires the submission of video documentation confirming the completion of these actions and verifies the insurance disbursements.

The suspension also includes the requirement to surrender the license plates of the affected buses, with law enforcement agencies tasked to impound any units that are found to be operating during the suspension period.

Regulatory reforms have been announced, including mandatory road safety training for bus drivers every three years, alongside psychological evaluations and basic life support training for conductors.

Criminal charges have been filed against the driver of the bus involved in the collision, Teodoro Merjan.

Charges include reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injuries, among others.

This incident led to the deaths of 10 individuals, eight of whom were passengers in a Nissan Urvan, including four minors who were en route to a youth camp organized by their religious group.

The other two deceased were a couple traveling in an SUV, while their two-year-old child survived with minor injuries.

During police investigations, the driver admitted to falling asleep while driving, and it was confirmed that the bus was exceeding speed limits, contributing to the severity of the collision.

Local authorities have covered all medical expenses incurred by victims receiving treatment at the provincial hospital.

Bayan Muna, a political organization, expressed condolences to the victims' families and has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, particularly focusing on the operational conditions at Solid North Transit, suggesting that recent bus shortages may have compelled drivers to work excessively long hours without sufficient rest.