COSAP wants drug testing for public transport drivers

The Cebu City Office on Substance Abuse Prevention wants all drivers of public transportations in the city to undergo random drug testing.

“Daghan kaayo ta’g na- receive nga information nga grabi gyod magpakusog og dagan ning mga jeepney drivers ug kining mga traysikad ug habalhabal drivers mohunong ra daw sa kilid unya manuyop,” said COSAP head Dr. Alice Utlang.

She will present the plan during the meeting with the members of Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council on April 16.

The meeting, she said, will be attended by the City Council’s chairman of its committee on peace and order, Councilor Nestor Archival.

“Mas maayo kon i- ordinance siya para mas ma- enforce nato,” Utlang said.

She said an ordinance will help improve the peace and order concern in different barangays.

“As of now, wala pa tay ordinance ana maong atong i- present ni sa atong meeting sa CADAC nga nindot kon dunay ordinansa ani para ma- enforce ta ni kay dili raman pod ni nga maka- determine ta sa mga addicts… motabang ta para dili mo-grabi,” Utlang said.

Last month, the Regional Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force reported that nine barangays are affected seriously by illegal drugs, including Kamagayan, T. Padilla, Lorega, Barrio Luz, Pit-os, Pulang Bato, Talamban, Bacayan, and Duljo Fatima.

City Police Office acting director Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela, Jr. also disclosed in a recent media forum that barangays Pasil, Ermita, and A. Lopez are in the list.

In the meantime, Utlang suggested that the Land Transportation Office-7 in- clude a drug test as condition in getting and renewing a driver’s license.

“Suggest to LTO nga magkuha gani og drivers license, dapat random and dili ang drivers magbuot kon kanus- a sila magpaschedule kay walay magpositive ana sila maoy magbuot when sila e-drug test unya kung magsuyupoan, di gyod magpa test kay sure sila ma- positive,” she said.

She will also suggest to habal- habal and trisikad drivers groups that random drug testing be made as requirement for membership.