The Makati City government has intensified its anti-drunk and drugged campaign with continuous operations to rid the streets of public utility jeep drivers using illegal drugs.
On Wednesday, 58 jeepney drivers at JP Rizal Street corner Pasong Tirad were flagged down and randomly tested for illegal drug use. Seven of them tested positive for drug use.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the drivers will be arrested and charged with violation of Republic Act 10856, an Act Penalizing Persons Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Dangerous Drugs, and Similar Substances, and for other Purposes.
The Makati City police station led the operation in coordination with the City’s Public Safety Department, Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Police-Highway Patrol Group, and the Land Transportation Office.
Mayor Binay reiterated her warning that drug users are not welcome in Makati, especially drivers who endanger the lives of countless motorists and pedestrians.
Aside from the intensified campaign against drivers under the influence of liquor and using illegal drugs, the city government also resumed its road clearing and anti-illegal parking operation to further improve the flow of traffic in the city’s major thoroughfares.
Recent operations conducted by personnel of the city’s Public Safety Department resulted in the apprehension of more than 500 individuals, most of the drivers and operators of public utility vehicles.
Other violations recorded in the operations include illegal terminal, disregarding lane markings, and obstruction of roads.
The PSD is conducting the clearing operations daily on the directive of Mayor Binay to maintain orderliness and cleanliness and promote road discipline and obedience to traffic rules.
The city chief executive started the intensified drive against illegal parking, illegal sidewalk vendors, and other road obstructions in the city in 2017.
PSD officials recently met with presidents of the United Transport Federation of Makati and the Makati Tricycle Federation at city hall to continue discussions on the safety of the city's riding public, implementation of traffic rules and regulations, and other transport-related matters.
The meeting covered traffic violations, road clearing operations, Illegal terminals/stationing areas, and random drug testing.
Mayor Binay said the city government needed to be relentless in promoting order and discipline on the streets, given the heavy vehicular volume in the city especially during rush hours.
“As it is, our roads are already congested. We have seen how even a minor traffic offense or an improperly parked car can lead to a major traffic gridlock because of the sheer volume of vehicles.
Leniency with disobedient motorists is, therefore, not an option in Makati,” she said.
