By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The regular and mandatory drug testing for all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers is vital to ensure road safety, Malacañang said on Tuesday, May 6.
“Dapat pong pag-aralan kasi ito po ay kailangan din po,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters in a press briefing.
The statement comes on the heels of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon’s announcement on Monday, May 5, that all PUV drivers will be required to undergo drug tests every six months as part of the stricter nationwide road safety plan.
Castro backed the latest directive, saying the move is necessary to prevent a repeat of deadly vehicular accidents in the country.
“Tandaan po natin, ang inaalagaan po dito, yung, yung safety ng commuters, passengers, ng mga tao na gumagamit po ng kalsada, including na rin po ‘yung mga driver,” she said.
“Hindi po ito basta-basta maaaring sabihin na huwag na lang gawin kung ito naman po ay makakasama sa safety. Pag-aaralan pa po ito.”
Castro hoped that the new policy would not be seen as a “money-making strategy.”
“Huwag naman po natin agad husgahan na ito ay isang money-making device or strategy,” she said.
On Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to implement reforms in the country’s transport systems in light of recent tragic vehicular accidents. (PNA)
