Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the enforcement of regular mandatory drug testing for Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers.
"We are going to mandate. We will be releasing this department order after I sign it today, and this will be effective immediately," Dizon said during a press conference on Monday.
"The department order was prepared jointly by the LTFRB, the LTO, and the DOTr together with consultations with PDEA," he added.
He clarified that the proposed drug testing would not be limited to franchise or registration renewals, but would be conducted regularly—recommending it to take place every 90 days.
Dizon further stated that part of the department’s agenda is to revise certain policies, one of which concerns the maximum allowable driving hours for public transport drivers.
The DOTr chief noted that the current maximum driving time is six consecutive hours, but he is proposing to reduce it to four—aligning with practices in other countries such as those in the European Union and parts of Asia, including Vietnam.
Furthermore, he emphasized the need for a designated relief driver. If the travel time goes beyond four hours, the bus company will be required to provide a substitute driver. Dizon stressed that the position of a relief driver must not be assigned to a conductor.
"Ngayon ang ginagawa 'yung konduktor, siya rin ang ginagawang ka-relyebong driver. Hindi po pwede iyon," said Dizon.
"Kailangan ngayon 'pag more than 4 hours ang byahe, kailangan may ka-relyebong driver, hiwalay sa konduktor," he added.
Roadworthiness checks
Meanwhile, Dizon said he has directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to make roadworthiness checks "real".
"Huwag na tayong maglokohan. Alam naman natin na ang roadworthiness checks dito sa atin, hindi naman ‘yan totoo. Hindi naman talaga na-che-check," Dizon stated.
"Similar to the mandatory drug testing, I have asked the LTO and LTFRB to come up with very strict and enforceable and regular roadworthiness checks similar to the standards of other countries," he added.
He pointed out that there is no need to reinvent existing processes, emphasizing instead the importance of clarifying and enforcing the rules.
Driver training and examination
Dizon announced that the LTO has been ordered to enforce stricter practical driving tests, stressing that shortcuts or leniency in the exam process will no longer be tolerated.
Moreover, he highlighted the urgent need to implement the Speed Limiter Law and emphasized the importance of having multiple suppliers to support its rollout.
He affirmed that more than one supplier exists worldwide and emphasized the need to open the procurement to the free market, allowing all qualified providers to supply as long as they meet the required standards.
Public Transport Safety Board
"There needs to be a single agency in this country that is in charge for safety of transport, similar to the other countries in the world," said Dizon.
Ultimately, the DOTr chief is pushing for the passage of a bill that seeks to establish the Public Transport Safety Board, which will be responsible for overseeing the safety of land, air, and sea transport.
"We need to make the people feel safe on our roads again because they do not feel safe. We all do not feel safe," he firmly added.
