Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon vows sweeping reforms during a press briefing, following a series of fatal road crashes. “The system is broken. We must fix it—for every Filipino afraid to walk or drive on our roads,” he said.
In the wake of a string of deadly road accidents, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon is calling for sweeping reforms in public utility vehicle (PUV) operations, emphasizing that the Philippine road safety system is “broken” and urgently needs fixing.
Speaking candidly during a press briefing, Dizon said he would soon issue a department order mandating regular, quarterly drug testing for all PUV drivers. This bold move, he said, aims to help prevent more tragedies caused by driver negligence, substance use, or systemic oversight failures.
“I will sign a memorandum requiring mandatory drug testing for all PUV drivers,” said Dizon. “This is not just during franchise renewal or registration. This will be done regularly. We’re recommending every 90 days.”
A system in crisis
The announcement comes after two major road incidents claimed at least a dozen lives in just a span of a few days. Among them was a catastrophic crash at the SCTEX Toll Plaza involving a Solid North bus, which left 10 dead—including four minors—and a separate incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport where two more people were killed by an out-of-control SUV.
Dizon, visibly emotional and firm in his tone, admitted that these tragedies were avoidable and pointed to a larger systemic failure.
“To be honest, these could have been avoided accidents,” he said. “The system is broken. We have to admit that. We have to fix it.”
“People like you and me feel unsafe on our own roads. Every time I pass SCTEX or NLEX and I see a bus, I get nervous. That’s the sad reality.”
Justice beyond compensation
Dizon stressed that the government’s responsibility to the victims goes beyond financial aid or legal action.
“The President told me: give the families justice. Not just through compensation, not just by holding drivers accountable,” Dizon explained. “Justice is about restoring safety so Filipinos no longer have to fear our roads.”
As part of the immediate response, Pangasinan Solid North Inc.—the bus company involved in the SCTEX crash—was slapped with a 30-day suspension, and all 273 of its units have been pulled from operation for inspections and mandatory drug testing of all its drivers.
“I was furious when I heard one of their drivers refused drug testing. That’s not an option,” Dizon said. “You killed people and now you won’t take a drug test? No way. This is mandatory.”
Lower driving hours, real roadworthiness checks
Another key reform being pushed by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is to limit consecutive driving hours for PUV drivers to just four hours—down from the current six.
“If a trip is longer than four hours, there must be a replacement driver. Not a conductor,” said Dizon. “This is the standard in many countries and we will adopt it here.”
He also raised the alarm over questionable roadworthiness inspections, which he said are often perfunctory or faked.
“Let’s be honest: most roadworthiness checks here aren’t real. That’s why we see so many brake failures. We need real, enforced inspections.”
Speed limiters and broader reforms
Dizon also flagged the underutilization of speed limiters, which have been mandated by law since 2016 but remain unevenly implemented due to monopolized supply chains.
“We have a speed limiter law, but only one supplier is accredited. That needs to change. We must enforce the law properly.”
Comfort for grieving families
Over the weekend, Dizon personally visited the wakes of the SCTEX victims—including members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and a Philippine Coast Guard personnel—offering the families legal support, funeral assistance, and emotional solidarity on behalf of the government.
Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares, whose constituents were among the victims, echoed the DOTr’s assurance.
“The government will cover the funeral. No family should have to worry,” Ynares said.
A turning point?
With a scheduled LTFRB hearing on the SCTEX crash set for May 7 and the victims set to be laid to rest this Friday, Dizon said he sees this moment as a critical turning point.
“This is the true justice we can offer—not just to those who died, but to all Filipinos. We will act. We will fix the system,” he said. “We cannot let fear rule our streets any longer.”
