MANILA, Philippines — Transport group PISTON denounced the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) latest policy requiring mandatory drug testing for all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, describing the move as a “punitive measure” that sidesteps deeper issues affecting road safety.

In a press statement, PISTON said the new directive unfairly singled out drivers but failed  to address the real causes of transport woes such as poverty wages, long working hours, and the lack of state support for workers in the sector.

“Mandatory drug testing, especially when implemented without proper safeguards or support systems, is more about surveillance and control than genuine safety,” the group said. 

“It treats drivers as suspects rather than workers or professionals, ignoring the harsh working conditions, low wages, and lack of state support they face daily,” it said.

The policy follows a series of road incidents, including a multiple-vehicle collision at the Tarlac City Toll Plaza along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway last Thursday that claimed 10 lives. 

Just days later, two more people were killed when an SUV crashed into the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Sunday.

“No amount of drug testing will improve road safety unless drivers are given the time to rest, the pay to live, and the respect they deserve,” PISTON said.

The group asserted that linking road safety to decent labor conditions would be more effective than blanket testing measures, which they claim do not come with free or accessible treatment options and were issued without proper consultation with affected stakeholders.

“The DOTr’s focus on drug testing is a smokescreen… It’s a punitive measure dressed up as reform, scapegoating the poorest sector in the transport industry,” PISTON added.

The group further urged the government to hold accountable not just individual drivers but large fleet operators and transport corporations, whom they accuse of turning public transportation into a profit-driven venture at the expense of workers.

“If the DOTr were serious about public safety, it would start by fixing traffic infrastructure, regulating punishing work hours, and ensuring living wages and benefits for drivers especially for long-haul road transport workers,” the group said.

PISTON reiterated its call for a public transport system that is “progressive, nationalized, and pro-people,” stressing that any safety program must be built on support rather than punishment.