LTFRB taking action vs. drivers using drugs

CEBU, Philippines — Following a massive nationwide screening led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is taking action against bus operators whose drivers tested positive for illegal drugs.

In a released statement, the LTFRB said show-cause orders will be issued to these operators, demanding they explain why no sanctions should be imposed on them for employing drivers who pose a threat to public safety.

The testing was conducted under “Oplan: Harabas”, a coordinated anti-drug operation spearheaded by the PDEA last April 16, in time for Holy Week.

Nationally, a total of 3,270 individuals were tested, with 96 yielding positive results --94 of them drivers and two conductors. These findings raised alarm across the transport sector.

According to the LTFRB, 13 of those who tested positive were bus drivers, one was a mini-bus driver, 47 were tricycle drivers, 19 jeepney drivers, 11 UV Express drivers, two motorcycle taxi riders, and one taxi driver.

The two conductors who also tested positive were assigned to the buses.

LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III called the results “deeply troubling,” emphasizing the grave risk posed to commuters by drug-impaired drivers.

“It is unacceptable and deeply troubling that individuals entrusted with the safety of passengers are found to be operating vehicles under the influence of prohibited substances,” said Guadiz.

He said public safety remains the priority of the LTFRB and that the agency will not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions, including possible suspension or revocation of franchises.

Under existing LTFRB rules, operators are required to ensure their drivers are physically and mentally fit to operate public utility vehicles. Failure to comply with this duty may result in administrative penalties.

As reported in The FREEMAN, three public utility drivers in Cebu tested positive for drug use at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

PDEA-7 spokeswoman Leia Albiar said drivers caught using illegal drugs will be subject to criminal and administrative charges, in coordination with the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

She also encouraged the riding public to report erring drivers and suspicious behavior through the agency’s hotline.

Meanwhile, The LTO is embarking on a comprehensive data analysis of traffic accidents and road rage cases in the country to come up with the holistic and effective government interventions to reduce road accidents.

Data from the United Nations revealed that the country has an average of 32 people who die every day as a result of road accidents.

The PNP has also reported an increase in road accidents in 2024 compared to 2023 which also showed a 35% increase in road accident fatalities, 2,747 fatalities in 2024 compared to 2,030 fatalities in 2023.

The same data disclosed that 27,248 or 87.17% of the road accidents were caused by reckless driving such as bad overtaking, improper turning, speeding, drunk driving, overloading, and using mobile phones while driving.

A total of 790 road accidents of which were attributed to motor vehicle condition while 725 cases were caused by poor road conditions.

The LTO is now focusing on data analysis based on the available documents and data on road accidents and road rage cases across the country with the goal of coming up with a comprehensive government intervention from the aspect of regulations and law enforcement to infrastructure review and recommendations.

The study and analysis will focus on three main factors of road accidents --human or motorist factor, motor vehicle factor, and infrastructure factor.

The first focus is on the identification of the usual causes of road accidents, including cases of road rage, that are directly related to the driving habits, the behavior and the skills of the motorists.

The motor vehicle factor of the study and analysis is aimed at identifying the usual causes of accidents relating to the condition of motor vehicles in order to come up with the new measures on stricter vehicle inspection and enforcement.

The road infrastructure factor is aimed at identifying all the accident-prone roads in the country, as well as the road-related problems that contribute to the road accidents.

“The intention is to maximize the cooperation and coordination among government agencies especially kung may engineering flaws ba, lighting and other road conditions that contribute to road accidents,” said LTO chief, assistant secretary Vigor Mendoza. — (FREEMAN)