DRIVERS and conductors in Baguio City have passed their test for illegal drug use conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Cordillera.

Francis Rey Almora, LTO-Cordillera director, said the inspection of drivers and conductors was done in compliance with the directive of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade to look into the road worthiness of public utility vehicles and the physical and mental condition of drivers and their conductors.

"As compared to other regions which recorded a number of drivers and conductors who tested positive, the 83 drivers and conductors who underwent the inter-agency random drug test last Monday in Baguio City tested negative for drug use," Almora said.

There were 46 bus drivers, 42 bus conductors, and 13 van drivers tested.

Aside from drug screening, the LTO conducted road worthiness testing and found out various violations of operators, who were given stringent warnings and suspension of fleet operations until they have complied with the requirements of the transportation office.

"Under the road worthiness of public transport vehicles that we tested even before the onset of the nationwide observance of All Saints' and All Souls' Day, the most common violations that we saw were that of none fleet operations, missing studs for wheels, incomplete accessory lights, lack of fire extinguishers in PUV's," said Almora.

Operators of the PUVs were told to comply after the confiscation of their vehicle license plates.

"For UV express, we actually conducted the rounds in terminals and we recorded similar violations," Almora added.

The inter-agency drug testing program will be conducted in the coming days to ensure that no drivers and conductors will test positive for drug use while in the process of providing transport services to commuters.