HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines Tas ‘
Quezon City, Metro Manila i

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILL No. _°°33

Introduced by Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2017, according to the data of the Department of Transportation, there were
thirty-one (31) individuals who died each day due to road crashes. More than
half of these deaths are among vulnerable road users, among which are
pedestrians.

Last February 12, 2020, an incident occurred in Makati City which resulted in
the death of a 14-year old student and the injuries of 7 others. These students
were on their way home to their families after class. While crossing the
pedestrian lane, a jeepney ran over them. The reckless driver tested positive for
methamphetamine use. He has confessed that he was using illegal drugs. Yet, he
was still able to drive a public utility vehicle.

The use of illegal drugs by our Public Utility Vehicle drivers is alarming. We
are entrusting each of these individuals with the lives of hundreds of passengers,
pedestrians, and other road users per day. For each time that a person drives
their vehicle while high on drugs, the risks that the ordinary citizens are being
subjected to are incalculable.

The duration of the validity of the driver’s license has recently been increased
from three to five years to five to ten years. That is a considerable amount of
time. Before the drivers are granted this privilege, they must first show that they
are qualified. Thus, this bill seeks to provide for mandatory drug testing for
public utility vehicles driver’s license applicants.

This mandatory drug test is not the end all be all for our problem on drugs and
road crashes. However, it is part of the solution we must implement to solve



these. Rather than responding late, it provides the government with a proactive
and preventive intervention.

In view of the foregoing, approval of the bill is earnestly sought.

Representative, Samak, I" District

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _8533

Introduced by Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY DRUG TESTING OF
PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLE DRIVER’S LICENSE APPLICANTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SEC. 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as
the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“Section 36. Authorized Drug Testing. — Authorized drug testing
shall be done by any government forensic laboratories or by any of the
drug testing laboratories accredited and monitored by the DOH to
safeguard the quality of test results. The DOH shall take steps in setting
the price of the drug test with DOH accredited drug testing centers to
further reduce the cost of such drug test. The drug testing shall employ,
among others, two (2) testing methods, the screening test which will
determine the positive result as well as the type of the drug used and the
confirmatory test which will confirm a positive screening test. Drug test
certificates issued by accredited drug testing centers shall be valid for a
one-year period from the date of issue which may be used for other
purposes. The following shall be subjected to undergo drug testing


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(h) Applicants for Public Utility Vehicle Driver’s License. No
driver’s license for Public Utility Vehicle drivers shall be issued or
renewed unless he/she presents a certification that he/she has
undergone a mandatory drug test and that he/she is free from the use
of dangerous drugs.
XX xX”

SEC 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The present Dangerous
Drugs Board, in consultation with the DOH, DOTr, LTO, and LTFRB, and
other concerned agencies shall promulgate within sixty (60) days the
Implementing Rules and Regulations that shall be necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 3. Separability Clause. — In the event that any provision of this
Act is declared unconstitutional, invalid, or illegal, the constitutionality,
validity, or legality of the remaining provisions of this Act shall not be affected
thereby.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, executive
orders, memorandum circulars which are inconsistent with the provision of this

Act are hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,