Drug Testing Rules for Professional Drivers

A Professional driver is every driver, hired or paid for driving or operating a motor vehicle, whether for private use or for hire to the public.
A Collection container is a container into which the license applicant urinates to provide urine sample for the drug test.
A Collection site person is a person in the laboratory who instructs and assists individuals at the laboratory and who receives and makes a screening examination of the urine specimen.
Drug refers to an amphetamine, cannabinoid (marijuana) and other prohibited drugs.
A Drug test is any chemical, biological, or physical instrument analysis administered by a laboratory to determine the presence or absence of a drug or its metabolite.
An Initial Drug Test is a sensitive, rapid, and reliable procedure used to identify negative and positive specimens usually by chemical procedure.
A Confirmation test is a second analytical procedure used to identify the presence of a specific drug or metabolite in a specimen.
A Medical Review Officer (MRO) is a licensed physician, medical technologist, pharmacist, or chemical engineer with knowledge of substance abuse disorder and appropriate medical training to evaluate drug test results.

In Metro Manila, any person who applies for a new professional driver’s license or for a renewal must show proof of passing a drug test conducted by an accredited entity.
In Metro Manila, acceptable drug testing sources include:
- An LTO physician or medical technologist accredited by both the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO); or
- Any duly licensed government or private laboratory accredited by both the DDB and LTO.
At the regional level, testing may be done through National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or Philippine National Police (PNP) facilities in the region, or through any laboratory accredited by the DDB and LTO.
At the provincial level, testing may be done through any drug testing laboratory accredited by both the DDB and LTO.
The LTO must secure monthly from the DDB an updated list of accredited drug testing laboratories, medical technologists, chemical engineers, and pharmacists for proper monitoring, coordination, and LTO accreditation.

The testing process begins with an initial urine drug test.
The initial urine drug test checks for metamphetamine, marijuana, and other prohibited drugs in the applicant’s urine.
The applicant must submit at least 60 ml. of urine contained in a collection container.
The collection site person must measure the temperature of the urine immediately from the time of its collection.
If the initial urine drug test is positive, the applicant must undergo a secondary confirmatory test at the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) or PNP Crime Laboratory or NBI Laboratory.
If the confirmatory test remains positive, LTO denies the application for license or renewal.
The MRO must recommend for the rehabilitation of an applicant whose confirmatory test is positive.
The laboratory report must be signed by a DDB authorized medical technologist, chemical engineer, or pharmacist.
Accredited drug testing laboratories must follow the same procedure.

If a driver is found positive of prohibited drug/s after the confirmatory test, the driver’s license is revoked.
If a license applicant is found positive of prohibited drug/s after the confirmatory test, the applicant is not issued a driver’s license.
An applicant who tests positive must undergo rehabilitation and must be cleared by the Drug Rehabilitation Board before the applicant may renew/re-apply.
When circumstances point to breach of franchise conditions or failure to comply with the legal obligations of a common carrier, the LTO must file a case before the LTFRB for the suspension/revocation of the franchise of the operator.

Laboratory reports must be made in printed forms especially prepared for the purpose, as required by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Laboratory reports are valid for fifteen (15) days from the date of issuance.

LTO collects a fee of Three Hundred Pesos (P300.00) for every test conducted covering both amphetamine and cannaboid at the LTO laboratory.
If the initial test is positive, the applicant must pay an additional fee to be determined by the Dangerous Drug Board for the confirmatory test required by the Dangerous Drug Board.
The testing fee for accredited drug testing laboratories is determined by the DDB and LTO.

All orders, memoranda, rules and regulations, or issuances in conflict herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly.
The order becomes effective after the publication requirement: fifteen (15) days after publication once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.