LTO still requires drug testing

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 will continue to require mandatory drug testing for all driver’s license applicants while waiting for the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the newly-passed Anti-Drunk and Drugged Law or Republic Act 10586.

LTO 7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos made this clarifications amid various queries coming from the would-be applicants.

Aguilos said that he received a status quo order from LTO head Virginia Torres on this matter.

“Nakadawat mi og status quo order from Asec Torres nga ipadayon pa ang mandatory drug test sa tanan license applicants while waiting for the IRR,” Aguilos told The Freeman.

President Benigno Aquino III signed into law RA 10586 on May 27, 2013, that penalizes drunk driving and gives law enforcement the authority to conduct breath alcohol test and sobriety tests on drivers found to have an indication of drunk driving.

The new law repealed, among others, subparagraph (a), Section 36 of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which provides that  no driver’s license shall be issued or renewed to any person unless he or she presents a certification that he or she has undergone a mandatory drug test and indicating that he or she is free from the use of dangerous drugs.

LTO is currently ironing out the laws’ IRR together with some government agencies like the Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Health and National Police Commission.

They have three months to draft the IRR.

The passage of the said law aims to protect the public from those drivers who are driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs. (FREEMAN)