By NITZ ARANCON,
Correspondent
THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday started subjecting bus drivers here to drug tests as part of the government’s campaign to ensure the safety of people traveling to their hometowns ahead of All Saints’ and All’s Souls’ days this week.
The LTO and LTFRB started the “Undaspot” campaign under “Oplan Harabas” with the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the Agora terminal in Lapasan.
Nelson Manaloto, LTO director for Region 10, said the government wants to make sure that public bus drivers are fit to drive and drug-free so as to reduce the risks of road accidents.
Manaloto said bus drivers who would test positive for substance abuse would be grounded, and their driving licenses would be confiscated. He said the licenses would not be returned to them until they have undergone drug rehabilitation.
Alan Aminoden Guro, LTFRB regional director, said the regulatory board would go strict on bus companies when it comes to rules this week, similar to what was done last year.
Authorities, he said, would demand to see LTO registration papers, LTFRB franchises, driving licenses, and buses would be inspected to make sure these are road worthy.
Guro said inspectors would check the buses’ engines, tires, breaks, horns, and signal and break lights.
He said the LTFRB and LTO would also keep an eye for overloaded buses.
“Kadtong maka-violate sa atong mga patakaran, dili namo togotan nga molarga sa ilang biyahi,” Guro said.
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