Transport groups to police ranks against illegal drug use

Published by rudy Date posted on September 3, 2010

PUBLIC transport officials on Thursday agreed to police their ranks against drivers hooked on illegal drugs to assure the safety of the riding public. Several transport groups also agreed to asked for government support on the expenditures of their drivers who will undergo mandatory drug testing, aside from the regular drug testing they take whenever they renew their individual licenses.

The transport groups asked Director Gen. Dionisio Santiago, chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to look for a lawmaker who will sponsor the bill that will make drug testing free of charge and should be done by any government institution.

Santiago called on all transport organizations to seek their guidance in crafting a bill that will put a stop to drug abuse of public transport drivers in order to assure the safety travel of riding public.

Zeny Maranan, president of Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines said all of her members belong to poor family who hardly afford to pay for their drug testing.

“If we could just request from congress to appropriate some of their pork barrel to finance the drug testing program for the drivers—this would help and encourage the drivers a lot,” Maranan said in Filipino in the forum at the PDEA office.

This was seconded by Efren de Luna, president of Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization and said that not only drivers who hold professional drivers license should undergo drug testing but all those who hold licenses to avoid discrimination.

He said that the P350 drug-test fee is a big burden on the part of the driver and if the government will shoulder the amount, there will be no reason for drivers not to undergo such tests even every month.

George San Mateo, president of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper Operators Nationwide echoed to free the drug testing for drivers to erase excuses that they have no money to undergo such test.

Land Transportation Office is requiring all professional drivers to undergo drug testing at least once every three years whenever they renew their licenses.

To show that they are serious to discipline their members, transport leaders submitted themselves to on the spot drug testing to prove that they mean business. –SAMMY MARTIN, Manila Times

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.