2 City Assessor’s workers test positive of drug use

CEBU, Philippines — Two workers from the Cebu City Assessor’s Office were found positive of using illegal drugs during the random drug testing conducted by the City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP).

Only 98 of the 114 workers showed up for the drug testing. The other workers who have not undergone drug testing were absent.   However, those who failed to submit themselves for the test were referred to COSAP to undergo drug testing the day they return to work.

Just recently, 15 employees of the Cebu City Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) tested positive of illegal drug use in a surprise drug test conducted last Tuesday.

Lawyer Eleodoro Diaz, office-in-charge of the City Assessor’s Office, supports the present administration’s vision of having drug-free workers.

COSAP Head Garry Lao said the conduct of the random drug testing was not meant to discipline or terminate government employees who are using illegal drugs, but to prevent workers from using it.

In fact, it was the second time for the City Assessor’s Office to undergo the drug testing.

However, in the last drug testing, only the job order employees were tested. At least five job order employees from the past drug test were found positive in using illegal drugs and all of them were terminated from work.

“Kung nag-positive sila unya ni undergo sila og rehab program, ok ra.  It’s welcomed, but that is not a passport for you nga makabalik mo sa City Hall because ang rehabilitation is for you nga ganahan ka ma-rehabilitate.  It’s the prerogative of the Office of the Mayor (to decide on the termination),” Lao said.

While for the barangay level, Lao said the barangay council will decide whether or not to allow them to work again.

The Assessor’s Office is the tenth department that COSAP conducted random drug testing.

On the other hand, workers of Barangay Bacayan tested negative during last Thursday’s drug testing.

Bacayan Barangay Captain Zenaida Colina is grateful about the results and is confident to implement anti-drug campaign to the barangay given that the workers in the barangay are free from drugs.  — Mary Kristine M. Cameros, CNU Comm Intern/GAN (FREEMAN)