By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Western Visayas apprehended four public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers during a surprise drug testing operation in Iloilo City on Tuesday, April 15.
Of the 156 PUV drivers tested at terminals in the Jaro and Molo districts, four—including one taxi driver, one tricycle driver, and two modernized minibus drivers—yielded positive initial results.
The drivers will undergo confirmatory testing with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The operation was led by LTO-Western Visayas Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan and Assistant Regional Director Jeck Conlu, as part of the national “Oplan Harabas” initiative.
“Oplan Harabas” is a coordinated inter-agency campaign aimed at ensuring passenger safety by testing bus and van drivers for illegal drug or alcohol use.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the PDEA, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Philippine National Police, and the Iloilo City Government.
It also aligns with directives from Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon and LTO chief and DOTr Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II.
The campaign supports the DOTr’s “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa and Summer Vacation 2025,” which heightens transport safety measures during Holy Week and the summer travel season.
Geduspan said the drug testing operation responds to persistent concerns about road safety amid the country’s high incidence of road crashes.
“Despite intensified enforcement efforts, the Philippines still records an average of 12,000 road crash fatalities each year, with approximately 500 of these occurring in Western Visayas alone,” Geduspan said.
