11 pass COSAP drug test

CEBU, Philippines - Eleven employees of the Cebu City government were found negative of illegal drug use during the random drug testing conducted by Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention yesterday.

Of these employees, four were from the Department of Social Welfare and Services, two from Department of Engineering and Public Works, one from Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission and four from Department of Public Services.

The negative results prompted COSAP chief Alice Utlang to describe their campaign against the use of illegal drugs as “indeed effective.”

“Naa na baya na-terminate sa ilang mga trabaho, murag mahadlok na sad ang uban (Some have been terminated from work so others might have been afraid of being caught),” Utlang said.

She said the employees might have realized it is not easy to find a job at present, adding that a second reason could be that government workers who actually use drugs remain lucky not being caught.

Utlang assured the public that the government employees will never know the schedule of the drug tests because they will make sure to make it secret.

She encouraged illegal drug users to stop the vice as early as possible.

 “Mas maayo gyud nga mo-stop na sila aron mo-decrease pud ang demand sa drugs. Unya kay i-random man namo ang pag-test di gyud sila makahibalo nga sila na diay i-test kay i-raffle man ang department ug ang employees,” she said.

Early this month, 33 employees of the Cebu City Health Department, who underwent the random drug testing conducted by COSAP, were also found negative to the use of illegal drugs.

Utlang said they are constantly conducting seminars among the employees of the different departments of the government.

 “During sa seminar amo sad gyud gi-explain nila ang ordinance,” she said.

 In 2000, the city council passed an ordinance requiring all the employees of the city government to undergo the random drug testing.

Section 36 of Republic Act 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,  states that “officers and employees of public and private offices, whether domestic or overseas, shall be subjected to undergo a random drug test as contained in the company’s work rules and regulations.”

“Any officer or employee found positive for use of dangerous drugs shall be dealt with administratively which shall be a ground for suspension or termination,” according to the law.

Utlang has always been encouraging the drug users undergo the drug rehabilitation program.

 “We are here to help them. Kay og sa private sila nga rehabilitation center very expensive kaayo. Atong purpose nga sa sayo pa mabag-o sila,” she added.   (FREEMAN)