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BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – A total of 1,050 jeepney and taxi drivers in this city took and passed their drug tests at Camp Delgado, the headquarters of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Camp Delgado started offering free drug tests to drivers on Nov. 7.
As of Nov. 11, 576 jeepney drivers and 474 taxi drivers availed themselves of the tests.
“They were all tested negative for illegal drugs,” said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson.
He urged city drivers who have yet to be tested to avail themselves of the free drug tests.
“In just a week, we already reached over a thousand clients. Our drivers are against illegal drugs and they are supportive of our campaign,” said Gorero.
At present, the free drug tests are only for Iloilo City drivers. But PRO-6 plans to expand it to the whole Western Visayas.
“Our goal is to ensure public safety,” said Gorero.
As proof of being drug-free, the drivers were issued with cards indicating such. They were told to display these in their vehicles for the passengers to see.
The first day of the free drug testing saw 57 jeepney drivers and 112 taxi drivers packing Camp Delgado,
“We are happy that no one tested positive for illegal drugs,” said Gorero.
The program was “a result of our consultations with jeepney and taxi operators and transportation companies. This will hopefully address, too, the frequent vehicular accidents on our streets,” said Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles, regional police director.
The 66-year-old Hardenado Sucgang, driver of a Calumpang passenger jeepney, was the first to be tested on Nov. 7.
“Manami ining programa. Kun negative ikaw sa drug test, hatagan kami sang identification cards nga nagapamatuod nga indi kami adik,” Sucgang said.
Sucgang has been driving a jeepney for the past 30 years./PN
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