Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, chief of Land Transportation Office (LTO), on Thursday said the agency will be implementing institutional changes and reinforcing policies particularly the “no show” in applying for professional driver’s license.
“Meron nga tayong medical testing pero hindi naman maipapakita sa medical testing na hanapan nila ng paraan para ikutan ang medical testing. Yung ating theoretical and practical test para mapasegurado na yung bibigyan ng lisensya ay angkop ang kaalaman nila para mag drive. Pero nahahanapan pa rin ng paraan para ikutan pa rin ito. So, now we will institute a reforms that will double check these things. We will take advantage of the technology na walang lulusot at lahat dadaan sa tamang proseso,” Mendoza explained in a press conference initiated by the National Public Transport Coalition (NPTC) in Davao City on Thursday.
Mendoza was in the city to witness the random drug testing conducted on passenger van operators and drivers from Regions 11 and 12 under the NPTC.
Mendoza said what other applicants do is look for a short cut like just paying a fixer to get a professional driver’s license.
“Ito ay isang sanhi na nakakatakas yung mga hindi marunong mag drive pero nakakakuha ng lisensya. We will address specifically yung professional driver’s license,” he said.
Newly-installed Regional Director of LTO 11 lawyer Ernesto Raphael Robillo said that reinforcing the policies is what they needed for the applicants to follow the proper procedures.
“Yun ang objective natin to see to it that all the policies and existing procedures and policies are being followed. That’s what really what we need reinforcing it kasi people usually goes or finds a way to go around the existing rules. Hindi natin maiwasan yan kasi nagiging irrelevant or illogical minsan yung pag-implement ng mga policies na hindi nakakatulong in fact nagiging restrictive. So walang choice yung ating mga gustong maging driver na magmaneho eh kabuhayan itong lisensya kasi pag an re-restrict sila ng ganyan they would resort into scrupulous deals sa mga fixers and no show,” he said.
Robillo said dealing with fixers must be avoided to help LTO’s objective to stop road crashes and ensure that drivers and passengers are safe from road accidents.
“I hope with the statement of Asec Vigor, I am very optimistic and very happy that mas mabibigyan kami ng extra tools that we need to implement whatever directives that are given to us by the national office,” he said.
Meanwhile, as of Thursday morning, more than 200 van drivers and operators have already underwent drug test. The random drug test has started on Wednesday and will run until Friday.
Of the 96 drivers who completed the test on Thursday morning, one has tested positive for the use of illegal drugs. The driver will be subject to a confirmatory test.
Mendoza lauded the NPTC for spearheading the drug test.
“Maganda ito dahil ang nag spearhead private sector kasi pag ang gobyerno ang nag spearhead katakot takot na tagal and I think this is a nice job on point para makalat natin ang mensahe sa buong Pilipinas,” he said.
Mendoza also said the drug test will ensure road safety among drivers and passengers.
“The road safety is a responsibility not only of LTO but of everyone so hinihikayat naming lahat hindi lang ang LTO offices pati na rin yung ating kasamahan sa transport sector and more importantly yung local government units na ang road safety ay para bang second nature of everybody,” Mendoza said.
