THE LAND Transportation Office yesterday morning conducted random inspections and drug testing at the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) as part of the government’s Oplan Biyaheng Ayos Undas 2022.
LTO chief Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III led other transportation officials in conducting the inspection and drug testing on drivers and conductors.
As of 12 noon yesterday, only one out of 74 drivers and conductors has so far been tested positive for illegal drugs. He was immediately subjected for confirmatory test.
The LTO leadership has been strict in implementing its rules, especially on province-bound transportations, for the long weekend towards the observance of the All Souls’ and Saints’ Days.
Guadiz said this is to make sure that all land travelers are safe heading to their respective destinations while onboard road worthy transport vehicles.
Last Tuesday, at least 16 mobile teams from the LTO’s Field Enforcement Division (FED) were deployed apart from a team of the LTO-NCR to carry out the conduct of inspection on bus terminals in Metro Manila.
In those operations, three buses were not allowed to leave their respective terminals due to violations such as having a busted signal light, a broken side mirror and window glass, defective wiper, absence of a PWD (persons with disability) and no smoking stickers, no seatbelts, and a unit that was unable to renew registration.
Earlier, the LTO also conducted seminars on drivers and conductors to ensure a safe travel of passengers for the long weekend.
All LTO enforcers have been ordered not to take a leave of absence starting October 27 until November 4 when vacationers are returning to Manila.
Meanwhile, the LTO Region V has suspended land travels towards areas with storm signals to avoid passengers from getting stranded in ports and bus terminals.
