LTO eyes reviving drug tests for motorists

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is considering reviving mandatory drug testing as a prerequisite for securing and renewing driver’s licenses following the Valisno Transit bus accident that claimed four lives and injured 18 people in Quezon City Wednesday morning.

In a radio interview yesterday, LTO spokesperson Jason Salvador said mandatory drug testing for driver’s license applicants was scrapped after the Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act took effect in June 2013.

He said it is under the LTO’s mandate to conduct random drug tests at all public utility vehicle terminals to ensure that the drivers are not using illegal drugs. 

The LTO started using breath analyzers on March 12 to test motorists of drunk driving.

Salvador said they purchased 150 breath analyzers and drug test kits distributed in the National Capital Region, Metro Davao and Metro Cebu.

The Quezon City Police District found that the driver of the ill-fated Valisno bus tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known as shabu.

Salvador said the driver may not have been caught by the random drug testing. 

He said the LTO cannot conduct random drug testing at transport terminals nationwide “most of the time” since the agency does not have enough personnel.

“We have so many terminals, so many public utility vehicles, we can’t guard them all the time,” Salvador said. 

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board executive director Roberto Cabrera said Valisno Transit has surrendered the license plates for 37 of its 62 buses, the firm’s entire fleet.

He said some of the buses were still at the bus firm’s provincial terminals.