GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- At least 115 drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV) and tricycles here tested negative for illegal drugs in a surprise test on Friday that was spearheaded by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 12 (Soccsksargen).
Naravy Duquiatan, PDEA-12 director, said the initiative was in line with the implementation in the region of "Oplan Harabas: Drug Test Muna Bago Pasada".
"This is part of our continuing efforts to cleanse our public transportation sector of drug users and prevent them from endangering our commuting public," she said in an interview with reporters.
Duquiatan said teams led by the PDEA set up stations as early as 6 a.m. in at least three sites in the city for the drug tests.
These were located near the city's main terminal and private terminals of passenger vans along Bulaong Ave. and Barangay Dadiangas West and the city international airport in Barangay Fatima, she said.
The teams were joined by personnel of the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Police Regional Office 12's Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Joint Task Force GenSan, and the city police office.
Duquiatan said at least 62 passenger van and tricycle drivers were tested at the stations along Bulaong Ave. and Dadangas West.
Some 53 taxi drivers were also subjected to the surprise tests through urine samples at the city airport, she said, adding that the urine samples were later collated and processed by the PDEA-12 laboratory here.
"Not one has tested positive so far for use of dangerous or illegal drugs," the official said.
Aside from the drug test, Duquiatan said they distributed information and education campaign materials to drivers and passengers.
She said the agency's K9 unit also conducted random inspections of vehicles and baggage at the testing sites.
Duquiatan said they will conduct more joint surprise drug tests for drivers in other parts of Soccsksargen.
"The number of road traffic accidents has been increasing in the region and in other parts of the country. So we're doing this is to ensure the safety and security of our passengers, of the public and even of our drivers," she noted. (PNA)
