84 PUV drivers test positive for drug use (2025)

MANILA, Philippines — Bus companies face the cancellation or suspension of their public transportation franchises after some of their drivers and conductors tested positive for illegal drug use.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) did not identify the bus companies, but said they will be ordered to explain after the Holy Week holiday.

LTFRB said the drivers and conductors tested positive for illegal drug use during a nationwide screening conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

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The drug tests, held on April 16 under “Oplan: Harabas,” covered major land transport terminals across the country.

The LTFRB said that of the 3,270 individuals tested, 84 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and two conductors yielded positive results.

Among those who tested positive were 13 bus drivers, one mini-bus driver, 19 jeepney drivers, 47 tricycle drivers, one taxi driver, two motorcycle taxi riders and 11 UV Express drivers.

Two conductors also tested positive for illegal drug use.

In a statement, LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III said the agency “takes the results seriously and will act swiftly to hold accountable those who put public safety at risk.”

“It is unacceptable and deeply troubling that individuals entrusted with the safety of passengers are found to be operating vehicles under the influence of prohibited substances,” he added.

“[The bus companies] will be required to explain why no sanction should be imposed upon them for employing drivers who pose a clear risk to public safety.”

Guadiz reminded operators that they are duty-bound to ensure that their drivers are fit to operate public transport vehicles, both physically and mentally.

Failure to comply with these responsibilities, he said, may result in penalties, including possible suspension or cancellation of their franchises.

Data analysis

Also on Saturday, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it would be conducting a “comprehensive data analysis of traffic accidents and road rage cases in the country.”

The goals is to come out with a improved government intervention from regulations and law enforcement to infrastructure review and recommendations.

The study and analysis will focus on three main factors of road accidents—human or motorist factor, motor vehicle factor and infrastructure factor.

“The intention is to maximize the cooperation and coordination among government agencies,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement.

Mendoza cited 2024 data from the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, which showed over 31,000 road accidents involving some 47,200 vehicles.

There were 2,747 road accident fatalities in 2024 compared to 2,030 fatalities in 2023.

The PNP data also said 27,248 or 87.17 percent of the road accidents were caused by reckless driving such as bad overtaking, improper turning, speeding, drunk driving, overloading and using mobile phones while driving.

The same data also showed that 790 road accidents were attributed to motor vehicle condition while 725 cases were caused by poor road conditions.

Last year, the LTO launched the “Stop Road Crash” advocacy aimed at achieving the goal set by the Marcos administration to reduce road accidents in the country by at least 35 percent by 2028.