By Jigger Jerusalem/Philippine News Agency
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Law enforcement agencies have started implementing Lent security measures, starting with the inspection of public areas on Monday.
At the Bulua and Agora bus terminals, a team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-10 (PDEA-10), Land Transportation Office-10 (LTO-10), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-10 (LTFRB-10) is making rounds to implement transportation and anti-drug laws.
PDEA-10 Director Wilkins Villanueva said some 300 bus drivers and bus conductors plying the Northern Mindanao routes were subjected to random drug tests.
“This is to ensure the safety of our riding public so that when they return to their homes during the Holy Week, they will arrive safe and sound because our drivers are drug-free,” Villanueva said.
Bus drivers and conductors who will test positive for illegal drugs will be required to undergo the barangay-based rehabilitation program, he said. To ensure compliance, he said LTO and LTFRB will confiscate the driver’s license of erring individuals.
LTFRB-10 Director Aminoden Guro said they will be checking the physical condition of bus drivers so that those who have medical conditions will be barred from working.
“We are also checking the roadworthiness of the buses and see to it that there will be no overloading of passengers,” Guro said.
Guro also advised commuters to be wary of “colorum” or taxis and vans operating without franchise as these have no insurance policies.
“If these ‘colorum’ taxis and vans will figure in a road accident, the passengers cannot avail of insurance,” he added.
LTO-10 Director Nelson Manaloto has also urged the public to report to transportation authorities those bus drivers and conductors not observing decorum while on duty.
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