Quezon City: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is pushing for an increase in benefits from the comprehensive third-party liability (CTPL) insurance and other reforms on motor vehicle insurance in light of the recent Katipunan flyover incident that killed four people and injured 20 others.

According to Philippines News Agency, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, emphasized the need to increase the benefits in cases of motor vehicle accidents. In the case of the Katipunan flyover truck accident in December, the insurance company released PHP200,000 to be shared by all four victims who died in the incident.

On December 5, four people were killed while 30 others were injured when a truck plowed into a bus, several trucks, and 16 motorcycles on the Aurora Boulevard flyover along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. Mendoza stated that the amount is too small to cover necessary expenses in the case of fatalities, hospitalization, or medication for those who suffered serious injuries.

Many motorists, he noted, are not checking on their CTPL insurance in the case of accidents, with many believing that it is merely a requirement for registration and does not provide any benefit. “We want to change this perception among the motor vehicle owners, we want to make this relevant,” Mendoza said.

In a dialogue with the Insurance Commission on Tuesday, Mendoza sought ways to increase the benefits of CTPL while also maintaining the affordability of the insurance premium for ordinary vehicle owners. He also advocated for the inclusion of property damage in the CTPL, as proposed by Senator Raffy Tulfo.

In addition to increased benefits, Mendoza called for improved timeliness in the release of insurance payments. He stressed the importance of immediate assistance from insurance providers, highlighting that timing is crucial in accidents for ensuring prompt hospital treatment.

Mendoza also proposed the establishment of a hotline that motorists can call for insurance-related concerns during accidents.