As part of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTR) road safety action plan, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is eyeing the procurement of more breath analyzers or ‘breathalyzers.’
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said Sunday the tools aim to ensure effective enforcement of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 under the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan, which is being actively pushed by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
“And to ensure effective enforcement, we have to download as many breat analyzers that could be used by traffic and law enforcers on the ground,” Mendoza noted.
Just like the mandatory installation of speed limiters to public utility vehicles, he cited the full implementation of laws to restrain drivers under the influence of either drugs or alcohol must be done to prevent road accidents.
The agency is awaiting the final assessment on what remained of the 756 units of breathalyzers procured in 2015 and 2017. Mendoza previously ordered a review on the purchase amid reports that they were no longer usable. An initial assessment showed only 288 of the 756 units could be fixed and recalibrated.
“Our focus right now is to really fix the purchased breath analyzers because what is important is to re-distribute them to our personnel on the ground for the strict implementation of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013,” the LTO chief said.
He vowed to conduct a transparent procurement process for additional breathalyzers.
