Amendment pushed on drug test measure

CEBU, Philippines - A Cebu City councilor is proposing amendment to the ordinance on drug-testing of government employees, saying the measure should also include barangay workers and police officers in the city.

City Councilor Nestor Archival, Sr. said the amendment aims to strengthen the implementation of programs to prevent illegal drug or substance abuse in the city.

 “Illegal drug use or substance abuse have detrimental effects to the health and well-being of the person and may lead to the disintegration of the person’s work attitude,” he said.

Following the issuance of the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 13, he said that the city government should amend the ordinance to widen its coverage in line with the vision to achieve a national drug-free workplace.

Archival proposes to amend sections 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 of the existing City Ordinance No. 1828.

Under section 1 of the existing ordinance, drug testing is mandated to city government employees, regardless of their status, be it regular, casual or contractual.

Archival hopes to amend this by including barangay workers, barangay peace and security officers, and all peace and order officers or members assigned in the city to undergo the compulsory drug testing.

He also proposes to revise section 2 of the ordinance by not only having the drug testing as a pre-employment requirement but also having the annual drug test for all the city government employees, as well as the barangay workers and peace and order officers. 

Archival also proposes that “the drug tests shall be administered by the City Health Department in coordination with the Cebu City office for Substance Abuse and Prevention  and shall be done in any government laboratories or by any drug testing laboratories or centers accredited and monitored by the Department of Health.”

Further, those who will be found positive of illegal drug use will be referred to the City Legal Office and the Human Resource and Development Office (HRDO) for appropriate action and this would now include the barangay workers and peace and order officers. 

Under Section 7 of the existing ordinance, “refusal to submit to the drug test herein mandated shall be sufficient ground for dismissal of the employee who unjustifiably refuses to undergo the test.”

Archival proposes that individuals who refuse to undergo the drug test will be subject for appropriate disciplinary action or administrative proceedings.

The city councilor also proposes the appropriation of P500,000 to effectively implement the provisions of the ordinance.

The City Council has invited COSAP, Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse council, Director of the Cebu City Police Office, Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, Association of the Barangay Councils to a public hearing on March 18 to hear their views on the proposed amendments. - ATO (FREEMAN)