Broader insurance coverage for PUVs sought

Motorists and other road users could gain broader financial protection from accidents involving public transport under a proposal to require buses, taxis and other public utility vehicles (PUVs) to carry comprehensive insurance.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo raised the proposal during a Senate Committee on Public Services hearing last week, citing complaints from motorists who encountered difficulties obtaining compensation for damaged vehicles following road accidents involving public transportation.

Tulfo pointed to cases involving Saulog Transit, where affected motorists allegedly had to repeatedly follow up on their claims because of inadequate insurance coverage.

He said insurance protection should extend beyond injuries and fatalities to include damage to motorcycles, private vehicles, and roadside businesses, sparing accident victims from having to pursue transport operators directly for compensation.

The senator questioned the sufficiency of existing third-party liability (TPL) coverage, which does not necessarily cover all property damage resulting from accidents.

He called for stronger insurance requirements, particularly for buses, to ensure that victims would have a more reliable means of recovering their losses.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Legal Division officer-in-charge Ralph Aidrin Baguio acknowledged the proposal, noting that PUV operators are already required to maintain passenger insurance and third-party liability coverage.

Baguio said the agency would study the proposed additional requirements and assess their implications for transport operators before submitting recommendations to the LTFRB board.

The review will determine how broader coverage could be implemented while addressing the concerns surrounding the proposal.

Tulfo urged the agency to examine ways to prevent accident victims from being caught in lengthy compensation disputes, particularly when collisions result in property damage without causing physical injuries.

The proposal remains under study, with no implementation timetable announced.