Officials of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted inspection and random drug testing among bus drivers in several terminals in Cubao, Quezon City.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the multi-agency inspection is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize passenger convenience and safety at all times.
“Our inspection aims to ensure the safe, orderly, and convenient movement of commuters and prevent untoward incidents at bus terminals during the holiday rush,” Artes explained.
DoTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure Ramon Reyes, DoTr Assistant Secretary for Road Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor, LTO Assistant Secretary Markus Lacalinao, PDEA Operations Division Chief Joel Villarente, Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department Head Dexter Cardenas, and representatives from the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group joined the inspection at bus terminals along EDSA.
“The random drug test was intended to ensure the safety of commuters using public utility buses going to their respective provinces for the holiday season.”
Reyes said the random drug test was intended to ensure the safety of commuters using public utility buses going to their respective provinces for the holiday season.
“We want to ensure bus drivers have no trace of drug use and are fit and in good condition before operating public utility buses for long distance travel,” Artes added.
“We want to ensure bus drivers have no trace of drug use and are fit and in good condition before operating public utility buses for long distance travel.”
While authorities have observed passengers continuously arriving at terminals, the MMDA chief said they expect the influx to increase this coming weekend.
Full deployment of personnel have also been implemented to manage traffic in major roads in Metro Manila. Based on the agency’s latest volume count, around 437,000 vehicles traverse EDSA.
Lacalinao said they deployed K-9 teams to help with drug detection and safety checks.
