MANILA, Philippines — Less than 1 percent or a mere 45 out of almost 5,000 public transportation workers who underwent drug tests nationwide tested positive, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
A total of 4,862 bus, jeepney, van, tricycle, taxi and bus drivers as well as conductors complied with PDEA’s mandatory drug tests last Monday called “Project: Undaspot.”
According to PDEA director general Aaron Aquino, 24 bus drivers, 14 bus conductors, three PUJ drivers, two van drivers, as well as a tricycle driver and a taxi driver had their licenses confiscated and were not allowed to operate their vehicles while they were under rehabilitation.
He nevertheless assured that the results are subject to confirmation.
The Bicol region had the most number of PUV drivers testing positive for drug use. Out of 187 persons who underwent drug tests, 12—a van driver, nine bus driver, and two conductors—were found to be drug users.
In Central Luzon seven persons—a tricycle driver, three jeepney drivers, and three bus drivers—tested positive for drug use among 449 who were tested.
In the Ilocos region, seven out of 333 people—three bus drivers and four bus conductors—tested positive for use of narcotics.
Metro Manila and the Davao region each had five public transport workers testing positive for drug use out of a total of 1,477 individuals subjected to drug tests.
On the other hand, none of the 1,226 public transport workers who underwent drug testing in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, the Western Visayas, the Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the Cordillera Administrative region tested positive for narcotics use.
Project: Undaspot is aimed at ensuring the safety of the riding public in their anticipated exodus to the provinces for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
The tests were conducted by the PDEA together with representatives of the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Philippine National Police.