Two bus drivers tested positive for shabu during a random drug test at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Monday.
A report by Jonathan Andal on 24 Oras said the two men were from a group of 123 drivers who took the test at the country’s largest land terminal.
One of the drivers said he was influenced by a group of friends on Sunday evening and that he was ashamed for his family.
PITX officials said both drivers who tested positive were plying the Cavite route.
Jason Salvador, head of PITX Corporate Affairs, said the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has confiscated their driver’s license as both men undergo investigation.
“Until lumabas yung confirmatory test nila. If nag-test talaga sila positively sa confirmatory test ng Department of Health, masusupend yung license nila for one year and then mag-a-undergo sila ng rehabilitation,” Salvador said.
This was the latest development as PITX noted an increase in passengers with more than 100,000 being processed by 6 p.m. with an 150,000 in the coming days.
PITX reported that many air conditioned bus trips to Bicol are fully booked until Thursday.
Dispatcher Alfredo Morcilla said his company is fully booked since the 28th and they have already requested extra buses especially for walk-in passengers.
There are, however, seats available for ordinary or non-airconditioned buses.
Several senior government officials who inspected PITX on Monday assured the public their agencies are working for a smooth flow of traffic.
In order for buses to reach PITX with no delay, Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation (DOTR) said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) has given special permits for provincial buses.
“Alam naming magkakaroon ng ganyang problema ano, kaya ang ginawa ng LTFRB ay nagbigay kami ng additional na special permit. Pwede na ring dumaan sa EDSA ang mga provincial bus sa piling oras hanggang bukas at 24 oras mula Miyerkules Santo hanggang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay,” Bautista said.
(We anticipated this problem so the LTFRB issued a special permit. Buses are also allowed to use EDSA on selected hours Tuesday and for the whole period of Wednesday to Easter Sunday.)
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said this was done in order for turnaround times of provincial buses to be faster and to cater to the increased number of passengers.
The MMDA also suspended the number coding scheme on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Government also announced the Bantay Lakbay Hotline 1326 where travel scam victims could call for assistance.
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Sec. Ivan John Uy advised the public not to post information on social media that informs people they are not in their homes.
“Huwag niyo po ipopost sa social media na wala kayo sa bahay at maglalakbay kayo kung saan-saan dahil makikita po ng mga magnanakaw,” Uy cautioned.
Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos advised people to also be careful not to leave unused and unsupervised electrical appliances to remain plugged to avoid fires.
He also said that firefighters, the police and MMDA personnel are now working under Holy Week shift to ensure their availability.—RF, GMA Integrated News
