Drug users at City Hall alarms COSAP

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention is alarmed by the number of City Hall employees tested positive of illegal drug use.

Dr. Alice Utlang, COSAP executive director, said there were already 10 employees tested positive of illegal drug use since January. The number is relatively high considering that it is still in the first quarter of the year and there were only 15 employees found positive of drugs in 2014.

In 2014, COSAP conducted a random drug test on 551 City Hall employees, 15 of them tested positive. Utlang said that 10 of those who were tested positive last year submitted themselves to an out-patient rehabilitation program of the city government.

“Ten were enrolled, four among them are recovering and three are ongoing sa rehabilitation,” she said.

Although they volunteered to undergo rehabilitation, their employment was terminated. Utlang, however, said that these casual employees can re-apply at the City Hall once they have completed the rehabilitation program.

Since January this year, COSAP has conducted random drug testing on 120 employees in 19 different departments and offices of City Hall.

During the recent random drug test, two casual employees were found positive, bringing the total number of City Hall employees tested positive for drugs this year to 10.  Utlang said that she has endorsed the drug test result to the City Legal Office and Human Resource and Development Office for appropriate action. Of the 10 drug users, one of them is a regular employee and nine are casual employees.

To address the increasing number of drug users at City Hall, Utlang said her office will conduct seminars. She will coordinate with the HRDO to compel all employees to attend the seminar on drugs.

Mayor Michael Rama said he wants to sit down with COSAP to further address the problem.

Rama said that he could not say that the number is alarming, saying that he needs to have the comparative analysis as to when the random drug testing has started. However, he said that it should not be taken lightly.

“Never take it lightly because a drug problem is a family problem. A family problem is a social problem. A social problem is a nation problem,” he said.

Rama said that he already directed his chief of staff, lawyer Dominic Diño, to do what needs to be done on the employees found positive of illegal drugs.

According to him, these employees are not valuing their employment. (FREEMAN)