By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz and Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday ordered mandatory drug testing for all drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV) every 90 days in response to the recent fatal crash at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).
In a press conference at the DOTr office in San Juan City, Dizon said a department order on the directive will soon be signed in response to the Solid North bus driver’s refusal to undergo drug testing after the collision.
“I was furious when I heard on the news that the driver from Solid North refused to take a drug test. He has no choice. You killed someone, and now you’re refusing a drug test?” he said.
“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.”
The DOTr will work with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to implement the mandatory drug tests.
In addition, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will reduce the number of hours a PUV driver can drive without breaks from six to four hours.
For routes that take over four hours, bus companies will be required to have a backup driver and not just a conductor.
In Malacañang, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro agreed that longer hours on the road might affect the driver’s capacity to work effectively.
“Dapat pag-aralan po ito dahil tandaan po natin kapag sobra ang pagda-drive ng isang driver, maaari itong makaapekto sa kanyang kapasidad na mag-drive nang maayos. At titingnan po nila ang tamang oras (This should be studied because we must remember that once a driver is overworked, it may affect his capacity to drive safely. And they should look the right number of hours),” she said.
Castro said the transport officials must include a thorough review of the proposal’s economic impact on the livelihood of the PUV drivers.
“Siyempre kapag nabawas ang oras, bawas din ang kita ng drivers kaya mas maganda pong masusing pag-aralan ito para sa mga (Of course, if there’s reduced hours, the income of drivers will also be diminished that’s why, this should be carefully studied both for the) commuters and passengers,” she said.
Castro said drivers should be responsible, get adequate rest, avoid alcoholic drinks, and refrain from using illegal drugs.
On the other hand, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will conduct regular roadworthiness checks on PUVs.
Dizon also sought the immediate implementation of the speed limiter law to ensure vehicles are not running at unsafe speeds.
He likewise supported the establishment of the Public Transport Safety Board (PTSB) to help fix the country’s road transport system.
In a separate statement, the DOTr said these road safety initiatives are in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to ensure “justice is served for the victims of the recent spate of road crashes that resulted to fatalities, including children, by fixing the broken system to make Filipinos feel safe on the country’s roads again.”
On Thursday, the LTFRB issued a suspension order against an entire route of Solid North Bus following the fatal road crash in SCTEX that took the lives of 10 individuals and injured over 30 others. (PNA)
