Malacañang defended Tuesday the mandatory drug test for drivers of public utility vehicles, saying that it is for the safety of commuters.
At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked about the opposition of transport group PISTON on the mandatory drug tests for PUV drivers as it pointed out that this measure is ”more about surveillance and control than genuine safety.”
”Dapat pong pag-aralan, kasi ito po ay kailangan din po. Tandaan po natin ang inaalagaan po dito iyong safety po ng commuters, ng mga passenger, ng mga tao na gumagamit ng kalsada, including na rin po iyong mga drivers, hindi po ito basta-basta maaaring sabihin na huwag na lang gawin kung ito naman po ay makakasama sa safety,” Castro told reporters.
(We need to study this, because it’s also needed. Let’s remember that we are ensuring the welfare of commuters, of the passengers, and those who are using the roads, including drivers. We can’t just say that we don’t need to implement this since it’s included in ensuring the safety.)
”So, pag-aaralan pa rin po ito at huwag naman po natin agad husgahan na ito ay isang money-making device or strategy,” she added.
(So, let’s study this and let’s not say that this is just a money-making device or strategy.)
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon earlier said that the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would be working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to implement the order.
The DOTr chief also said that the mandatory drug testing will be on a regular basis and may be conducted every 90 days.
Dizon made this announcement in a bid to fix the “broken system” in the country, making the people feel unsafe on roads.
This, as 10 people, including four children, were killed in a multiple-vehicle collision at the Tarlac City Toll Plaza on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway last Thursday.
Two other individuals were also killed just on Sunday when an SUV rammed into the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
