INFANTA, QUEZON — A tragic bus accident claimed the life of one passenger and left 28 others injured after a tourist bus crashed along the Marilaque Highway in Infanta, Quezon, on Monday morning.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Calabarzon, the incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. in Sitio Pinlac, Barangay Magsaysay. The bus, bearing plate number UVD 253, was traversing a downhill portion of the highway when the driver reportedly lost control of the brakes. The vehicle hit a roadside barrier before overturning on its side.

Initial reports indicated that the passengers were excursionists from Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, many of them youth leaders who were on their way to Infanta for a holiday outing.

Emergency responders rushed the victims to nearby hospitals in Infanta and General Nakar. Authorities confirmed that one passenger died on the spot, while the injured sustained various wounds ranging from minor cuts to serious fractures.

Police investigators are now probing the incident, focusing on possible mechanical failure or driver negligence. The bus company has yet to issue a statement, but officials said they will be held accountable pending the results of the investigation.

Local officials expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reminded transport operators to strictly observe safety protocols, especially during the holiday season when excursion trips are common.

The accident has reignited calls for stricter monitoring of public utility vehicles, with transport groups urging the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to intensify inspections of buses plying provincial routes.

How Many More Crashes Before Safety Becomes Non-Negotiable?

Every holiday season, the story repeats. A bus overturns. Lives are lost. Investigations follow. Promises are made. Then silence, until the next crash.

This tragedy in Infanta is not just an accident. It is the predictable outcome of weak enforcement, aging vehicles, and a transport system that tolerates shortcuts. Excursionists, many of them young leaders, trusted that a licensed bus was roadworthy. That trust cost a life.

Brake failure on a downhill road is not bad luck. It points to inspection lapses, questionable maintenance, or pressure to operate despite risks. These are preventable failures, not acts of fate.

Transport safety in the Philippines remains reactive. Action comes after deaths, not before trips. Bus companies apologize. Regulators investigate. But accountability rarely feels lasting or severe enough to change behavior.

How many passengers must die before inspections become strict, surprise checks real, and operators truly afraid of penalties? Safety should not depend on prayers or luck.

If holidays keep ending in funerals, then the system is not broken. It is being allowed to fail.

Image from Christian Astoveza