News

Solon files bill aimed at abolishing drug tests for drivers

A lawmaker has has filed a bill that seeks to abolish the drug-test requirement for those who are either applying or renewing their driver's licenses.

According to the Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (4th District, Cebu), author of House Bill 1023, only those with criminal records, pending court cases or traffic violation citations should be required to undergo drug testing by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Citing a study conducted by the Dangerous Drugs Board, Salimbangon said only 0.4 percent of those tested have been found to be positive for illegal drugs. The solon also pointed out that since its implementation many years ago, the mandatory drug testing has not significantly contributed to addressing the drug menace.

Salimbangon also raised other arguments behind his proposed abolition of the mandatory drug testing, like how the P400 fee is a financial burden to the people and how the existence of the many drug testing centers in the country is questionable due to reports of fake accreditation by the LTO.

Despite these arguments, however, National Bureau of Investigation director Magtanggol Gatdula is against the move to abolish the drug tests, saying that "persons under the influence of drugs are proven to be road hazards."

"A number of vehicular accidents involved drivers who were under the influence of prohibited drugs," said Gatdula.

Gatdula added that the safety of the public takes precedent over the expense of the mandatory drug test.

What do you think? Should the LTO continue the mandatory drug test or should it be abolished? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

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  • warak1422 Sep 07 2011 @ 07:33pm
     
    may punto rin
       
  • ako_si_bigotilyo Sep 07 2011 @ 09:33pm
     
    Abolish na yan ! Halatang halata na the gov't is making all ways to get money from our pockets.Kung titignan niyo, yang Emission test na yan , isa pa ring malaking propaganda! Di ko nga alam kung totoo ang mga drug test nila, parang naglolokohan lang.
       
  • nestortinam Sep 07 2011 @ 09:34pm
     
    it should be definitely ablolish, never heard someone got tested positive sa drug test during LTO license renewal...
       
  • nestortinam Sep 07 2011 @ 09:36pm
     
    pag na abolish iyon, defintely me bago gimik lalabas and mas mataas ang bayad.
       
  • JoHunter Sep 07 2011 @ 09:56pm
     
    "A number of vehicular accidents involved drivers who were under the influence of prohibited drugs," said Gatdula

    Ooo-kay... so pointless naman pala ung drug test since accidents caused by prohibited drugs still happen. So why keep them?

    Is the LTO drug test really effective in curbing or eliminating drug-related car crashes? Ito ang dapat tanungin before deciding to keep the law or not. And if you ask me... no, it's not effective. So scrap it.
       
  • Boggs Sep 07 2011 @ 10:35pm
     
    i agree and disagree..i agree because there are lots of drug testing centers and facilities that are not strictly implementing proper drug testing and they can easily manipulate records. i disagree because there might be an alarming growth rate of drug pushers and users in our country, and then here goes the good guys in the government aiming to chase the bad guys again..then what comes next? nothing! and then there goes the poor rating of our president, again being blamed for the high rate of drug users that can't be fought. i think this is one strategy of the opposition to destroy the credibility of the current government and putting a bahala-ka-jan-pilipinas-basta-ako-yumaman-wala-ako-pake-sa-inyo.
       
  • GTi Sep 07 2011 @ 10:48pm
     
    Well... Rep. Salimbongan has a point here. Its practically a waste of money and resources if all it yields are more excuses for corruption and a 0.4% positive, and there's only a small percentage of the population who drives at that. When a drug user goes for license renewal, he'd probably make sure he's clean enough before he does so, so its not much use really.
       
  • bruce Sep 07 2011 @ 11:13pm
     
    abolish it! i've heard from a drug user that a week or two of abstainance, you will come out clean sa drug tests.. what's the point in having drug tests if you can work out something like this! either that they make it intensive in such a way that they can trace those who used a year ago or they abolish it. just propose a bill that those who will be involved in accidents should take the drug tests since sabi naman ni Gatdula na madalas sila ang involved sa accidents.. if found positive, jail time minimum of 6 months!
       
  • ChairmanPineapple Sep 08 2011 @ 12:27am
     
    can the solon pass a bill to abolish MMDA immediately!! PLEASE!!!! Paki tanggal na yan walang kakuwenta kuwentang organization na yan.
       
  • wangwangsareforlosers Sep 08 2011 @ 02:02am
     
    abolish it. it's a needless expense for people who don't use drugs, and is spectacularly ineffective at keeping drug users off the road. and besides, you can pay a fixer to get your license anyway, no drug test required. the funny thing is, if we apply the standard of "not significantly contributing" to the betterment of Philippine society and being a "financial burden" to the Filipino people, then Congress should be abolished. How'd ya like them apples, Congressman! >:(
       
  • vonschnipp Sep 08 2011 @ 08:22am
     
    People who have taken drugs won't take the drug test anyway. They will just drive without a valid license.
       
  • roadrage Sep 08 2011 @ 08:38am
     
    (Your thoughts on the article...)
       
  • Paisano Sep 08 2011 @ 10:34am
     
    For ABOLITION.

    The comments made here are correct: (1) The 0.4% positive rate is too few; (2) The drug-user will not undergo drug testing while it is in their system so chances of catching them is very low; (3) The drug-user will drive with or without license anyway; (4) The P400 testing is too much - it is even more expensive than the license itself; (5) The pay-off bribe money from the drug-testing centers near LTO offices is graft; (6) Even in first world countries where drug use is prevalent they dont conduct drug testing because of reason no. 2; (7) Drug-testing centers are not even strictly regulated - anybody in the testing centers can pose as a medical doctor and sign the clearance.
       
  • warren_r Sep 08 2011 @ 12:40pm
     
    Out of curiosity, may the good NBI Director Gatdula provide the public of how many cases of vehicular accident caused by persons under the influence of drugs? How about drivers under the influence of alcohol? May they barking at the wrong tree, if they want to minimize or elimate road hazards in relation to issuance or renewal of LTO driver's license.
       
  • Chu55y Sep 08 2011 @ 02:27pm
     
    drug test or no drugs test its useless, filipinos are to intelligent to get caught.
       
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