CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Every driver passed, this how Land Transportation Office -10 regional director Nelson Manaloto, told reporters recently, describing the suprise drug test they conducted among public utility vehicle drivers in the city and the entire region.
Manaloto said the result of a random and surprise drug testing conducted by the LTO in one of the city’s integrated bus terminals recently went well and everyone passed.
The LTO randomly picked up 100 PUV drivers and conductors, not one driver has tested positive for traces of illegal drugs in their urine sample, he announced.
But one conductor tested positive, though, Manaloto said.
The zero result, Manaloto explained “Is an n indicator that the drivers are heeding the call of the government as it continues to wage war against illegal drugs.” He added that the fact that none of the drivers tested positive for illegal drugs is a sign that those in the number of drug users in the public transport sector has gone down.
“It was a surprise drug test of conductors and drivers of buses, taxis, and UV express,” Manaloto said.
The testing was conducted at the Agora integrated bus terminal in Barangay Lapasan, this city, on Nov. 23.
The LTO-10 is still waiting for the confirmatory test result from a drug testing laboratory, and when the second test turns out positive the person will then be advised to attend the community-based rehabilitation program in his barangay.
He added his office has advised the bus company to take a leave of absence until the confirmatory result is released.
During LTO-10’s surprise drug testing, Manaloto said a UV express driver refused to subject himself to the examination. “He did not want to under the drug testing, so we confiscated his license and put on alarm. We also issued him a show-cause order asking him to explain to LTO why he refused it,” Manaloto said.
He added that if the LTO found out that that driver’s explanation is unjustifiable, “we will recommend the suspension or revocation of his license as the case may be. It will depend on the appreciation of our adjudicator.”
“It’s good that out of the hundred drivers, no one tested positive, only one conductor. It only means that our campaign against illegal drugs in region 10 is effective, and that our drivers, even taxi drivers, are now choosing to go drug-free,” the regional director said.
“I hope it will be eradicated,” Manaloto said, as he emphasized that LTO-10 is fully supportive of the government’s anti-drug campaign
The random drug test was in coordination with the Phiilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) .-Jigger Jerusalem
