BACOLOD City – A transport group in this city is in favor of the mandate of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers to undergo mandatory drug testing every 90 days.
Rudy Catedral, president of Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD), said he is amenable to the pronouncement of Transport Secretary Vince Dizon during a press briefing yesterday.
“This is for the safety of the public especially the passengers,” said Catedral.
He however said that the expenses for drug testing should be shouldered by the government.
“Daku nga kabudlayan para sa drivers kon sila pa ang mabayad kay madulaan sila sang income sa sulod sang isa kag tunga sa adlaw para lang magkuha sang drug test,” he stressed.
For his part, Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on transportation and traffic, said it is about time to implement mandatory drug testing.
Dizon yesterday said he would sign a department order requiring such.
He said he came up with the directive after hearing news that the Solid North bus driver involved in the fatal Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) did not want to be subjected to drug testing.
According to reports, 10 individuals died while over 30 were injured after a Solid North passenger bus rammed into a van and a sports utility vehicle (SUV), which were queuing at the Tarlac Exit of SCTEx’s northbound toll plaza.
“The system is broken, we have to admit that. We have to fix it…I will make specific announcements today for the government to begin fixing the broken system. I will sign a memorandum requiring mandatory drug testing for all PUV drivers,” he said.
Dizon added that the DOTr will be working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to implement mandatory drug testing. (With reports from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
