Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez suspended the borrowing of city government vehicles by groups traveling to various activities, pending inspection of the condition of the units, to ensure the safety of Bacolodnons.

The mayor issued the order yesterday after a city-owned tourist bus figured in a road crash, resulting in the death of public school teacher Arlyn Tolosa Verde, 42, and injured more than 30 others in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, on June 14.

“I’m holding in abeyance or suspending all borrowing of city vehicles. It is to ensure safety, that these vehicles will not put them in danger, although I’m still waiting for the investigation on the accident that happened in Don Salvador Benedicto,” Benitez said during the kick-off program of the city’s 86th Charter Day celebration at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.

He said the initial investigation showed the accident was caused by brake fade, brought by overheating due to friction on the brake pads.

He said he has also instructed the General Services Office to ensure that the running condition of all city government vehicles is “in order” and that these are all properly maintained.

“We want to make sure that all our vehicles are not problematic, or we will not see problems in their condition,” he added.

About 5:40 p.m. on Friday, the city bus, carrying 32 teachers of the Paglaum Village Elementary School in Bacolod and five of their immediate family members, was on its way to the capital when it fell on its side in Purok Talus in Barangay Igmaya-an.

The group, with the driver and a helper, came from a supposed team-building activity in San Carlos City.

Earlier, Benitez said the city government provided hospital assistance to all the injured passengers, most of whom were discharged from various hospitals. (PNA)