Undas safety checks flag 51 vehicles in Cordillera; 113 pass drug tests in Baguio - Rappler

Personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conduct random drug testing of public transport drivers and workers in Baguio City on October 29, 2026, under Oplan Harabas. All 113 individuals tested yielded negative results for illegal drug use.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – All 113 drivers and transport workers subjected to random drug testing at Baguio City terminals on Thursday, October 29, tested negative for illegal drugs, as authorities tightened transport safety checks ahead of the Undas long weekend.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also reported that K9 units detected no indication of illegal drugs during simultaneous inspections of passenger baggage and vehicles at selected terminals.

The operations, conducted under Oplan Harabas, covered terminals along Governor Pack Road, Victory Liner, Dangwa, Burnham Park, and Slaughter.

Those tested included 39 bus drivers, 42 van drivers, 16 bus conductors, seven taxi drivers, five jeepney drivers, two modern jeepney drivers, and two bus operators. Of the 113 individuals, 110 were men and three were women.

PDEA Assistant Regional Director Ver Castillo said the random testing was intended to discourage drug use among public transport drivers and reduce the risk of accidents associated with impaired judgment.

The agency also conducted brief information sessions on the dangers of illegal drugs. Similar operations are held during major travel periods, including Holy Week.

Separate inspections by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the Cordillera found that 51 of the 1,476 motor vehicles inspected from October 23 to 28 failed roadworthiness checks.

According to LTO-Cordillera’s Oplan Biyaheng Ayos report, 1,425 vehicles passed inspection.

The report identified nine vehicles as unfit or unsafe to travel and six operating with defective parts.

Enforcers also recorded 40 violations involving driving without a driver’s license, 24 involving unregistered or delinquent vehicles, 21 seat belt violations, five reckless driving violations, and three involving colorum vehicles.

Five violations concerned the unauthorized use of improvised, temporary, or fake plates.

The LTO issued 135 traffic violation tickets and impounded one vehicle during the reporting period.

The figures cover regional enforcement operations from October 23 to 28 and are separate from PDEA’s October 29 drug testing in Baguio.

Department of Transportation-Cordillera Regional Director Glenn Dumlao said inspections also focused on vehicle roadworthiness, particularly tires and brakes, as well as compliance with passenger safety requirements.

Dumlao stressed the importance of preventing impaired driving and ensuring public utility vehicles are safe before passengers board.

Police Regional Office-Cordillera Director Brigadier General Noel Vallo said the joint inspections were part of an interagency security plan involving the police, DOTr, PDEA, and other government agencies.

The operation also involved personnel from the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-Cordillera, headed by Colonel Ruben Lacuesta, and the Baguio City Police Office.

Authorities are preparing for increased passenger traffic during the long weekend, particularly at bus terminals and major routes entering and leaving Baguio.

The city expects 63,100 cemetery visitors from October 31 to November 2, nearly 45% more than the 43,651 recorded in 2025.

Transport inspections and security operations will continue as travelers head to their hometowns and cemeteries for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Mia Magdalena Fokno is a Kankanaey indigenous journalist based in Baguio City, dedicated to telling stories that honor the culture, strength, and lived experiences of the Cordillera region.