DOTr orders drug testing for PUV drivers every six months

MANILA, Philippines, May 6 ------ Drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV) are now required to undergo mandatory drug testing every six months, as part of measures set in place by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to prevent a repeat of the recent deadly vehicular accidents.

The DOTr issued yesterday a department order formalizing the requirement aimed at improving road safety in public transport. DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, appearing distraught at a briefing yesterday, expressed belief that Filipinos no longer feel safe in the streets following the recent fatal car crashes at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Dizon said President Marcos has instructed him to ensure that justice is served to the families of the 10 people killed in the SCTEX collision and two in the NAIA accident. President Marcos also directed the labor department “to crack down on unsafe and exploitative practices in the transport sector,” saying that driver fatigue, long hours and pressure to meet quotas should never put lives at risk. “We owe it to the victims and their families to act – not only with sympathy, but with resolve. These lives will not be lost in vain. We will make the changes that need to be made. We will demand accountability where it is due. And we will build a transport system that truly protects Filipino people,” he added.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in two counts of homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property have been filed with the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office against Leo Gonzales, 47, the driver of the black Ford Everest that figured in the NAIA incident. The DOTr is also ordering bus companies to trim driving hours to just four hours, from six hours currently, mirroring international standards on drivers’ welfare. It is unlawful to drive straight for four hours in Vietnam and 4.5 hours in countries under the European Union.

Dizon said a reliever must be on board if a bus trip would last more than four hours to give drivers time to rest, preventing instances when they fall asleep. In addition, Dizon directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to require all bus units of Pangasinan Solid North Transit Inc. to undergo motor vehicle inspection. Solid North operates the bus that caused the multi-vehicle collision at the SCTEX last week. The company has since suspended all of its trips as ordered by the DOTr.

Dizon reminded PUV operators to shoulder all the costs of added protocols to be enforced by the DOTr to promote road safety. He also ordered transport agencies to strictly implement the new measures and to address age-old problems on roadworthiness. The DOTr will also carry out the provisions of Republic Act 10916, or the Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016, requiring all PUVs to have a speed limiter. The law provides that no vehicle shall be allowed to ply the roads without a gadget that restricts its speed.

Dizon also called on legislators to create a Philippine Transportation Safety Board, an independent body that would be tasked to look into transport accidents on land, air and sea. Meanwhile, the driver of the SUV involved in the NAIA accident has admitted to human error, according to a police official. In an interview with News5 yesterday, the chief of Aviation Security Unit of the Philippine National Police Col. Cesar Lumiwes said the 47-year-old driver remained in police custody and had undergone inquest proceedings at the Pasay prosecutor’s office.

The five-year-old victim, daughter of an overseas Filipino worker who was about to leave the country, died at the scene. Her mother remains confined in the intensive care unit, while two other individuals who were injured have been discharged. “As of yesterday (Sunday), there were four injured. Two are still in the hospital, including the mother of the child who died. She’s currently in the ICU, while the other patient is now in stable condition,” Lumiwes said.

Also killed was a 29-year-old man, identified as an employee of a private company who was flying to Dubai on a business trip. He was not an OFW, Lumiwes clarified. Initial findings from CCTV footage contradicted the driver’s first claim that a person had crossed in front of his vehicle, prompting him to step on the brakes but hit the accelerator instead. “Upon reviewing the CCTV footage and based on his statement, he panicked. He admitted it was human error,” Lumiwes said. “He had just dropped off a passenger, and the car was in park mode. He stepped out to hand over the luggage, and when he got back in and was about to leave, he said he panicked and hit the accelerator instead of the brake,” he added.

Police said the driver tested negative for alcohol and illegal drugs. “After the incident yesterday, we brought him in for alcohol and drug testing. He passed the alcohol test and was negative for drugs,” Lumiwes said. Lumiwes said the man is a licensed professional driver and a former OFW.

Source: philstar.com