Lastimoso warns drug test centers

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Roberto Lastimoso has ordered the regional offices of the agency, especially the National Capital Region (NCR), to shut down drug testing centers which failed to comply with the necessary requirements to operate, particularly the Government Service Insurance System surety bond.

Lastimoso warned that he would impose appropriate sanctions against all employees and ranking officials of the agency who do not comply with his order.

He stressed that drug testing companies must first seek the renewal of their accreditation and comply with other requirements to ensure that all the testing centers nationwide are operating legally. "The order is an assurance to the public that the government is serious in getting rid of graft and corruption in the agency," he said.

Lastimoso also lauded the LTO office in Cebu for immediately complying with his order, effecting the closure of all illegal drug testing centers in the region.

Meanwhile, LTO records revealed that there are eight drug testing centers in the provinces that are operaating without complying with the necessary requirements.

They are the St. Martin and Gutierrez labs in Region 3; Apostol lab — Region 4 and Cagayan valley; Jerah lab in Region 6, Durian, San Roque and Retroville in Davao and Philippine Drug Testing Center.