Six Mandaue government workers drug positive

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Hall employees underwent another round of surprise drug testing, with six workers found out to be positive of illegal drugs use yesterday morning.

Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing said employees under the Office of the Mayor, City Information Office, Sangguniang Panlungsod, Quality System Management and Mandaue City Hall's Management Information System Office (MISO), were the ones made to undergo the drug test, which he said would continue until all offices are covered.

Of the 388 who underwent testing, six, one of whom was a female employee, tested positive. The mayor, however, refused to divulge as to what offices the six employees belong.

Random drug testing for officers and employees of public and private offices is already mandated under Section 36 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), which also call for the promotion of a National Drug-Free Workplace Program.

Quisumbing said that regular employees who will be found positive for drug use will face administrative sanctions while job order employees will automatically be dismissed.

Last Tuesday, eight employees were found to be positive during a surprise drug examination after 15 had a similar result last week. The City Health Office (CHO), in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), conducted the drug screening at the City Session Hall. The DOH provided the 3,500 drug kits. (FREEMAN)