Transport groups to police ranks against illegal drug use

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