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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Proposed mandatory drug testing of PUV drivers shouldn't be dismissed, but studied—Palace

Proposed mandatory drug testing of PUV drivers shouldn't be dismissed, but studied—Palace

Published May 6, 2025 02:18 pm

At A Glance

  • Malacañang believes that the proposed mandatory drug testing for drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) needs to be studied and should not be dismissed.
  •  
Malacañang believes that the proposed mandatory drug testing for drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) needs to be studied and should not be dismissed.
The proposal to require PUV drivers to undergo drug testing every 90 days is meant to ensure the safety of passengers, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
Thus, it should be studied and not just be dismissed right away for claims that it is only a money-making strategy.
"Dapat pong pag-aralan, kasi ito po ay kailangan din po. Tandaan po natin ang inaalagaan po dito iyong safety po ng commuters, ng mga passengers, ng mga tao na gumagamit ng kalsada, including na rin po iyong mga drivers (It should be studied, because this is a necessary. Let us remember that we are prioritizing the safety of commuters, passengers, people using the roads, including the drivers)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, May 6.
"Hindi po ito basta-basta maaaring sabihin na huwag na lang gawin kung ito naman po ay makakasama sa safety (We should not abruptly dismiss it if it would compromise safety)," Castro said.
The Palace official stressed that the strategy is not a money-making device.
"So, pag-aaralan pa rin po ito at huwag naman po natin agad husgahan na ito ay isang money-making device or strategy (So, this will be studied and let us not brand it as a money-making device or strategy)," she pointed out.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon came up with the directive after a hearing that a Solid North bus driver involved in the fatal Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) refused to be subjected to drug testing.
Former senators Vicente Sotto III and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III have questioned Dizon's policy, saying it may be unnecessary and would only be a waste of funds.
Sotto cited data showing that after more than 24 million drivers were tested, only 0.06 percent tested positive, while Pimentel pointed out that the driver involved in the SCTEX collision did not test positive for illegal drugs.
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