3 bus drivers test positive at PITX random drug testing

MANILA — Three bus drivers at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX() tested positive during the random drug testing conducted on Wednesday, October 30.

PITX spokesperson Jason Salvador said out of the 93 bus drivers and conductors who participated, the three were confirmed positive based on the initial results.

“Agad namang kinumpiska yung mga lisensiya nito ay hindi na sila pinayagang makapagmaneho,” Salvador said.

(We confiscated their licenses immediately and did not let them drive)

He said that if the three test positive in confirmatory testing, their licenses will be suspended.

Random drug test ipinatupad sa bus drivers sa PITX

Salvador said bus operators of these drivers were already informed about the initial result of the drug test.

Also on Wednesday, Transportation chief Jaime Bautista and officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office inspected the terminal to ensure safety of passengers mostly bound for Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao.

According to Baustista, enough security protocols are in place at the PITX, the depot for buses to and from southern Luzon.

Aside from the Philippine National Police and personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard, augmentation forces from other government agencies are also on standby.

“Sa tingin ko sa dami ng nandito ngayon, sufficient naman yung personnel ng lahat ng agencies,” Bautista said.

(I think we have enough personnel for security)

1.6 MILLION PASSENGER EXPECTED AT DIFFERENT PORTS

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is expecting about 1.6 million passengers in all ports nationwide this Undas 2024.

PPA spokesperson Eunice Samonte said this figure is a bit higher than the 1.5 million passengers recorded in the same period last year.

2 bus drivers test positive for drugs at PITX

She said that around 200,000 passengers used the country's ports on Wednesday, which was lower than expected due to the effects of recent typhoons.

All passengers stranded by trip cancellations due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine have already boarded their vessels, she said.

‘Wala na po tayong mga stranded ngayon sa mga pantalan, bagamat meron po tayong ilang mga kanseladong biyahe ngayon sa Bicol, Western Leyte, Biliran, at tsaka sa Mindoro pero inaasahan natin na kapag gumanda na ang panahon at wala nang masyadong malakas na alon — dire-diretso na po tayo,” Samonte added.

(There are no more passengers stranded at ports, although there have been trip cancellations in Bicol, Western Leyte, Biliran and Mindoro but we expect that operations will resume as soon as the weather improves)