ILOILO City – To ensure road safety this Nov. 1 and 2, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively, bus, jeepney and van drivers here were subjected to random drug tests yesterday.
The “UndaSpot” campaign of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6 tested 14 drivers at a bus terminal in Barangay Buhang, Jaro district; eight drivers at the transport terminal in Barangay Ungka, Jaro; and eight bus and van drivers at the terminal in Barangay San Pedro, Molo.
“Gusto natin masiguro that our passengers are safe and our drivers are not drug users,” said PDEA agent Jay-R Espares.
He did not say when the results would be released but Espares said test flunkers would be banned from driving public utility vehicles.
Van driver Wilson Delos Santos welcomed the drug test. He expressed confidence of passing it, he said, because he was not a drug user.
The “UndaSpot” drug test could discourage drivers from taking illegal drugs, said Delos Santos.
“For as long as we are not using illegal drugs, we have nothing to worry about. UndasSpot is in fact favorable to the drivers,” said another driver plying the Ungka-Iloilo City route.
INSPECTION
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 started inspecting land transport terminals yesterday.
Regional Director Rolando Ramos spearheaded the inspection. He also discussed safety concerns with drivers of public utility vehicles.
On the other hand, Jose Romeo Jamerlan, chief of the operations division of LTO-6, subjected some drivers to a random alcohol level check using a breath analyzer.
Check if the engine, signal lights, brakes, tires, seatbelts and tire bolts were working, Ramos told drivers of buses and jeepneys.
“Passengers should reach their destinations safely,” said Ramos. “Public utility vehicles should not travel without undergoing inspection.”
At the transport terminal in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district Ramos barred two passenger jeepneys from plying the route Ungka-Iloilo City. The vehicles failed to meet LTO’s conformity standards, especially the tires and tires’ bolts, he explained.
A passenger jeepney was also not permitted to leave the transport terminal in Barangay Mohon, Arevalo district due to violations.
“Drivers should care for their passengers,” said Ramos.
In a related development, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Region 6 kicked off its security campaign Oplan Undas Ligtas Biyahe.
PCG Western Visayas is on “full alert”, said Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, spokesperson.
The coastguard has Passengers Assistance Desks (PADs) in seaports.
Of particular concern to the PCG are four areas with constantly busy seaports – Dumangas (Iloilo), Caticlan (Malay, Aklan), Guimaras, Lapuz (Iloilo City), and Iloilo Ferry Terminal (Parola, Iloilo City).
Each PAD is manned by a team composed of elements from the PCG, Philippine National Police, Department of Transportation, Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Luggage would be thoroughly inspected.
The carrying of deadly weapons and illegal drugs is not allowed.
Dogs trained to detect illegal drugs, firearms and explosives would be tapped in inspections in major seaports (in Iloilo City; Dumangas, Iloilo; Caticlan, Malay, Aklan)./PN
