Butuan city: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) 13 (Caraga Region), supported by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-13) and other regional law enforcement agencies, launched “Oplan Harabas” on Tuesday for the upcoming observance of Undas.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative involves surprise mandatory drug testing for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors to ensure the safety and security of travelers in the region, ahead of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2. Along with Oplan Harabas, PDEA-13 also introduced its ‘Oplan Undaspot’ on the same day by conducting drug tests on drivers and conductors at the Langihan Terminal and Robinsons Terminal in this city.

The PDEA-13 stated that the legal basis of ‘Oplan Undaspot’ is Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013. In a report, the agency indicated that 28 bus drivers and 27 conductors at the Langihan Terminal underwent drug tests, with one driver testing positive for drug use. At the Robinsons Terminal, drug tests were conducted on 30 bus drivers, 15 conductors, three taxi drivers, two tricycle drivers, one van driver, and one Grab driver, with all results returning negative for drug use.

Ahead of Oplan Harabas, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 announced the deployment of 1,816 police personnel to ensure the safety and security of Undas in the region. It stated that police personnel will be assigned to cemeteries, public streets, airports, seaports, bus terminals, churches, and other areas of public convergence. Police officers will also be tasked to man assistance desks in cemeteries in the region, as well as the designated motorist assistance centers on major national highways in the area.