Drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles wait for their turn to be tested during the surprise random drug examination inside the Digos Satellite Terminal in Barangay Aplaya, Digos City on Friday (April 8, 2022). Five were found positive for drug use. (Photo by Jonathan Tudtud, Contributor)
DIGOS CITY—Five transport workers were found positive for illegal drugs use during random testing done by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday, in coordination with the Land Transportation Office-11 (LTO-11) and the provincial police.
The testing was done inside the Satellite Land Transport Terminal located at Barangay Aplaya of this city.
The effort aimed to ensure that travelers using public transport vehicles are safe during the Lenten season, according to PDEA investigation agent Mildred Driz-Romero.
Romero revealed that a total of 92 drivers and conductors were tested and five among them were found positive for using prohibited drugs. However, Romero did not disclose what illegal substances were allegedly used.
Of the five, two are utility van drivers from Digos City, a taxi driver also from Digos City; a bus conductor from Makilala, Cotabato; and a bus driver from Sulop, Davao del Sur.
Those who were tested positive for using prohibited drugs during the random examination will have to undergo drug rehabilitation program in consonance with the Community-based Drug Rehabilitation Program of the PDEA. They will undergo it with their respective local government units.
Francisco Paulo Barias, LTO-11 officer said the driver’s license and conductor’s license of those who were found positive of using illegal drugs were confiscated and it will be returned to them after they will be through with the drug rehabilitation program.
Barias further said Davao City and Davao del Norte also conducted random drug testing in their respective public transport terminal on the same day.