No more drug test for driver’s license applicants

MANILA, Philippines - The panel crafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Law has scrapped the requirement of drug testing for applicants for driver’s license.

Starting today, there will be no more drug test for license applicants. It became a rule yesterday afternoon following a meeting of the technical working group crafting the IRR of Republic Act No. 10586, according to Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres.

Torres then drafted a memorandum for the purpose.

The move came after Malacañang made a pronouncement interpreting the new law as having repealed a provision of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Earlier, Torres clashed with Sen. Vicente Sotto III on their interpretation of the new law.

Sotto said RA 10586 repealed the provision of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act that required  drug testing on applicants for driver’s license.

Observers said the requirement had become useless with applicants abstaining from drug use before they apply for or renew their licenses.

Torres, however, issued a status quo order, reminding the LTO’s district offices to continue performing the drug tests until the technical working group crafting the IRR resolved the conflicting interpretations of the new law.

The new law, which imposes stiffer sanctions on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, allows traffic enforcers to conduct breath analysis on drivers suspected to be intoxicated.

Yesterday’s meeting included representatives from the police, the Department of Health, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, among others.