MANILA — Alarmed by a sharp increase in drunk driving incidents, Senator Raffy Tulfo is calling for stricter enforcement and better use of government resources to curb road accidents.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed 1,555 road crash incidents, with drunk driving cases surging by 255.8 percent from the previous year.
Tulfo pointed out longstanding issues in the distribution and condition of breath analyzers among enforcement agencies. During a November 17, 2023 budget hearing, he questioned the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the limited availability of the devices, noting that only 17 units were reportedly in use out of equipment worth P330 million procured in 2020—claims the PNP disputed.
He also cited findings from a Commission on Audit (COA) report discussed in an August 21, 2024 hearing, which flagged the Land Transportation Office (LTO) after all 756 breath analyzers it acquired for P51 million were deemed unusable due to defects or lack of calibration.
To address the issue, Tulfo urged authorities to conduct more frequent random sobriety checks and consider deploying personnel with breath analyzers near nightlife establishments and surrounding areas.
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