DRUNK DRIVING is a deadly crime waiting to happen.
The head-on collision along Iloilo City’s Diversion Road on July 12, where one rider was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, should serve as yet another wake-up call. Instead, what the public heard afterward was a familiar list of reasons why authorities find it difficult to enforce the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act — too few breath analyzers, complicated procedures, insufficient training, and legal hurdles.
Those are legitimate operational challenges. But they cannot become perpetual excuses.
Republic Act No. 10586 has been in effect since 2013. That is more than a decade — ample time for every local government to acquire the necessary equipment, train its personnel, and establish an effective enforcement system. If Iloilo City still lacks adequate Alcohol Breath Analyzers today, then the problem is no longer the law. It is a failure to prioritize road safety.
The argument that the procedures are lengthy is equally unconvincing. Due process exists for a reason. It protects the rights of motorists while ensuring that cases filed in court can withstand legal scrutiny. The solution is not to complain about the law. The solution is to master it.
Traffic enforcers should know the procedures by heart. If they require additional training, then train them. If they need certification, certify them. If they need refresher courses, provide them. That is what competent governance demands.
Likewise, if the shortage of breath analyzers is crippling enforcement, then City Hall should immediately allocate the necessary budget. Government spends millions on infrastructure, festivals and celebrations, and various programs every year. Surely protecting lives from intoxicated drivers deserves funding as well.
What should concern the public is the implication of the statement that the lengthy process discourages immediate enforcement and makes filing cases difficult. That mindset is dangerous. Enforcement officers are expected to overcome obstacles — not surrender to them. Criminals do not become less dangerous simply because paperwork is tedious.
Every drunk driver allowed to continue on the road because authorities lack equipment or preparation is another potential killer behind the wheel. The next victim could be a child crossing the street, a family driving home, or participants in another fun run.
Road safety cannot depend on luck.
The objective, as Traffic and Transportation Management Office itself admits, is to prevent crashes — not merely apprehend violators. That objective will never be achieved if enforcement remains reactive, under-equipped, and underprepared.
More than explanations, the public deserves results after every alcohol-related crash.
Enough excuses. Buy the equipment. Train the personnel. Enforce the law.
Before another family pays the ultimate price for government unpreparedness.
