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LAND Transportation Office chief Alberto Suansing will ask the
Department of Health to give government hospitals the exclusive
authority to undertake drug tests for those applying for a
driver’s license.
This scheme, Suansing said, will stop people
from blaming the LTO for the illegal activities which private
operators of drug testing centers do, which is to give drug test
certificates to clients who do not undergo actual testing.
“Honestly, the LTO has nothing to do with it
[operations of private drug testing centers]. We are not the one
that issues accreditation, it is purely a Department of Health
matter,” Suansing said.
Drug test center agents are also a problem,
because they pester the LTO’s clients to avail of the services of
the firms they represent. Much of them do this right in the premises
of the agency.
“Some of them even offer services aside from
drug testing which is illegal,” said Suansing.
Suansing said since accreditation of drug
testing centers is under the authority of the Health department, it
would be better if that agency will allow government hospitals to
undertake the drug tests.
It will be much better, Suansing said, if all
drug testing will be handled by government hospitals which can offer
the service at P100 per applicant. Private drug-testing centers are
currently charging each applicant P250.
Suansing also wants a stop to LTO employees
referring applicants of driver’s licenses to a certain
drug-testing center in exchange for a commission.
-- Jefferson Antiporda
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