Despite the order by President Rodrigo Duterte to have all bus drivers subjected to drug testing, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) admits that it would still be discussing how to implement it.
“Pag-iisipan ho muna ng board, pag-aaralan paano ito gagawin,” LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada said on Tuesday.
Lizada added that all drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) not only bus drivers, will be subject to the drug testing.
“Kasi sa ngayon po hindi pa po mandatory yung drug testing doon sa mga drivers at public utility vehicle drivers,” Lizada told reporters via Viber.
“Pag-usapan po ng board ito paano ito gagawin not only for PUVs but for all drivers as well,” she added.
In an event in Cebu City, Duterte ordered that bus drivers, particularly those on long trips, to be tested for drug use before they are allowed to travel.
“All bus drivers, before departing for long travels, should undergo a drug test. If there is an accident, they’ll say that the break is broken even if it’s not. But it is really running at a high speed which causes the break to get broken,” Duterte said. /muf