GUMACA, Quezon — Twenty-five passengers were injured after a passenger bus tilted on a national road in Barangay Manlayaan, Gumaca, Quezon on Friday evening, February 20, authorities reported.

According to police findings, the driver allegedly lost control of the steering wheel after the bus brakes suddenly locked. The vehicle eventually leaned to its side, leaving passengers trapped and injured inside. The impact also affected a nearby car, which fell into a canal after being sideswiped by the bus during the incident.

Emergency responders and residents rushed to help victims, pulling them from the damaged vehicles and transporting them to nearby medical facilities. While no fatalities were reported, several passengers sustained moderate injuries, raising concerns about the safety of public transportation vehicles traveling long provincial routes.

Incidents like this are often attributed to mechanical failure — a sudden malfunction that seems unavoidable. Yet behind many “accidents” are systems: maintenance schedules, inspection enforcement, company accountability, and regulatory monitoring. Brake failure rarely happens instantly; it typically develops through wear, poor upkeep, or ignored warning signs.

In the Philippines, buses remain one of the most relied-upon modes of transportation, especially for provincial commuters who have limited alternatives. For many passengers, boarding a bus is an act of trust — trust that the vehicle has been inspected, the driver is well-rested, and the operator values safety over profit or schedule pressure.

This crash reminds us that road safety is not only about careful driving but about preventive responsibility. When maintenance is compromised, passengers unknowingly bear the risk. So the public must ask: Are transport accidents truly unavoidable, or are they warnings of safety standards we only enforce after people get hurt? (Larawan mula sa: RealTalkQuezon / Facebook)