The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance appropriating the amount of PhP150,000 for the purchase of alcohol breath analyzer and drug testing kits in relation to Resolution No. 203, series of 2024.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Benny O. Bomogao, the purchase of the alcohol breath analyzer and drug testing kits shall be in relation to the enforcement of the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10586, otherwise known as the Anti-Drug and Drunk Driving Act.
This fund is being proposed by the City Council to be included in the 2025 annual budget or supplemental budget of the city government.
The ordinance stated that the alcohol breath analyzer and the drug testing kits shall be used by the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) for the effective implementation of the law and related ordinances that were crafted and enacted for the said purpose.
The proposed measure pointed out that in order to ensure road safety and responsible driving, there is a need to equip local enforcement offices for the effective and sustainable implementation of the law.
RA 10586 penalizes any person found driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and similar substances.
Earlier, the local legislative body passed Resolution No. 203, series of 2024 that requested the BCPO and the Land Transportation Office–Cordillera Administrative Region (LTO-CAR) to intensify the implementation of RA 10586.
The council claimed that upon verbal inquiry from the LTO-CAR and the BCPO, the law enforcers could not effectively implement this law because of the alleged absence of alcohol breath analyzer and drug testing kits which are important gadgets to be used in the effective and sustainable implementation of the said law. By Dexter A. See
