ROXAS City – In an effort to prevent reckless driving and reduce road accidents, public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers at the Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal expressed support for the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) implementation of random drug testing.
In a local radio interview, Antonio Mayo, a PUJ driver plying the Cuartero-Dao-Roxas City route, said he welcomes the initiative as it helps identify drivers who may be under the influence of illegal drugs, thereby ensuring the safety of passengers.
“Passengers should not be put at risk. We are the ones who carry their lives,” Mayo emphasized, adding that most of his fellow drivers share the same sentiment.
He noted that PUJ drivers in Capiz are well aware of the DOTr’s guidelines on road management and safety and are committed to complying with the mandate.
The DOTr recently issued Department Order No. 2025-008, which mandates regular drug testing for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers. The order comes in response to recent road incidents, including a fatal collision on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and a ramming incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader commitment to enhance road safety under the President’s directive to make Philippine roads safer.
In addition to the efforts of the City Traffic Management Unit, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan has also issued reminders to the public on the importance of complying with traffic regulations.
“Please do your job well. Let us do our share to make our roads safer for the general public,” said Geduspan, stressing the need for strict adherence to transportation protocols to prevent accidents caused by negligence.
Authorities have vowed to hold erring drivers accountable and implement comprehensive reforms in the transport system to better protect commuters and the general public as a whole./PN
