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PB seeks probe on LTO drug testing lab fees

   CEBU CITY, Oct. 1 2002 (PNA) -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO)
should look into the legality of the centralized collection of fees
from drug testing laboratories conducting tests from license
applicants.

   The provincial board on Monday passed this resolution after learning
that drug tresting laboratories were required to pay P30.80, to be
deposited in an unknown account in Manila, for every driver who
undergoes a drug test.

   The amount is taken from the P300 collected by drug testing
 laboratories as fee from license applicants, who are required to
pass the drug test prior to the issuance of a driver's license.

   The result is then encoded to a computer connected to Professional
and Innovative Systems Management (PRISM) Inc., the duly accredited
Information Technology (IT) of LTO authentication drug test results.

   PRISM, which collates all drug test results nationwide, will then
approve the drug test result to be used as basis for the license
renewal.

   Earlier, LTO chief Roberto Lastimoso was accused of pocketing the
P30.80 of every P300 collected from license applicants.

   It was Lastimoso who issued memoranda that PRISM is the legitimate
IT provider of LTO that authenticates drug test results. The hiring
of PRISM, he added, is a measure to safeguard the integrity of LTO's
drug test program.

   Lastimoso, however, denied that money was paid to a secret bank
account saying it went directly to PRISM.

   But the PB resolution said that owners of drug testing laboratories
raised suspicion on the centralized collection because PRISM neither
issues official receipts nor acknowledges receiving the amount paid
to them.

   "In view of this failure of PRISM to issue an official receipt (to
drug testing laboratries), the latter is still paying to the Bureau
of Internal Revenue (BIR) the deducted amount as part of their
taxable income," the resolution stated.

   The resolution, sponsored by PB Member Victor Maambong, also
 stressed on the need tor LTO to satisfactorily disclose to the
people the actual purpose of the undertaking to avoid suspicions.
(PNA)

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