MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang stands by the scrapping of the mandatory drug test for driver’s license applicants.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte yesterday said the mandatory drug testing had been repealed when President Aquino signed the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act into law.
According to Valte, the measures to be taken against drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol were expected to be more effective.
She said drug test for drivers would be done every time they show signs of being drunk or drugged and not just when renewing their license.
“In our view, the new law is better,†Valte said.
She said authorities could use breath analyzer to determine if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Earlier, senators welcomed the decision of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to stop the mandatory drug test for driver’s license applicants following its repeal by the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Law.
Sen. Vicente Sotto and Senator-elect Juan Edgardo Angara lauded LTO director Virginia Torres for listening to public clamor to stop the drug test before the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the new law.