EDITORIAL - Fake IDs for fake skills?

Two taxi drivers have been blacklisted from driving public utility vehicles after they were found using fake driver’s IDs by city traffic enforcers on the lookout for traffic violators.

The Cebu City Transportation Office said these fake driver’s IDs are becoming more common.

"As of now daghan g’yud ta nabantayan, but we were able to confiscate two nga medyo naklaro naman nga fake g’yud," said CTTO deputy head and spokesperson Paul Gotiong, who added that they are now trying to find out who is behind the fake IDs.

While this may not be an alarming development outright, it has the prospect of turning into a serious issue eventually.

With a fake ID, anyone can pretend to be someone, including someone who has the right knowledge and skills for a certain task. And driving for a public vehicle just happens to be a very specialized task.

Every time people step into a vehicle, whether it is a PUJ, taxi, bus, or whatever, they are entrusting their lives to the one driving that vehicle. They believe that the person who is behind the wheel has the necessarily skills to bring them safely to their destination, and not get them into an accident that has the possibility to maim or even kill them.

The road just happens to be one of the most dangerous places in the world, but imagine how more dangerous it becomes if the one driving you happens to be only pretending to be qualified.

We are not saying that all people who have fake driver’s IDs are not qualified to drive public vehicles. However, it is usually people who are lacking in certain skills and qualifications that seek out and use these fake documents.

If there are people who are not qualified to handle public transport but who are pretending to be, then they should be found.