The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Davao 11 (LTFRB 11) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO 11), collaborated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 11 (PDEA 11) in conducting simultaneous random drug screening for drivers of jeepneys, tricycles, and UV express vehicles .
The random tests were conducted at high-risk terminals as a preventive endeavor against drug-related traffic incidents on October 28, 2022.
Dubbed “Oplan Harabas,” which coincided with the LTFRB “Oplan Bantay Biyahe: Undas 2022,” three separate drug screening tests were conducted for PUV drivers and conductors at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT), Gaisano Mall Van Terminal, and Digos City Bus Terminal.
In a Facebook page, LTRFB 11 shared that a total of 350 PUV drivers and conductors were screened. Two bus drivers tested positive at DCOTT. Similarly, two taxi drivers tested positive for drug use at Gaisano Mall Van Terminal while one bus driver and two conductors tested positive at Digos City Bus Terminal.
As per PDEA 11, the individuals who tested positive during the initial screening will still be subjected to confirmatory testing.
“It’s a yearly undertaking of PDEA, LTO 11, and LTFRB 11 and it’s done during Undas but there will still be the same activities in the future but it’s going to unannounced,” said LTFRB-11 Director Nonito Llanos III.
Llanos said the testing was conducted during Undas because it’s one of the busiest days in the Davao Region.
“We wanted to make sure that our passengers and drivers plus their conductors are safe,” he said.
The “Oplan Harabas” initiative follows the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10856 or Anti Drugged Driving Act of 2013, known as “An Act Penalizing Persons Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Dangerous Drugs, and Similar Substances, and for Other Purposes.” This activity mainly seeks to promote road safety, specifically to prevent road accidents caused by drivers under the influence of illegal drugs during the Undas season.
