8 city workers test positive of drug use

CEBU, Philippines — At least eight Cebu City Hall employees will be recommended for termination after they tested positive during the random drug test conducted by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) last Friday.

COSAP chief Garry Lao said the employees are from the offices of parks and playground and peace and order. Lao said the results are still subject for confirmatory test but he is already recommending their termination from work.

As provided under Article 282 of the Labor Code and pertinent provisions of Civil Service Commission, any employee found positive of drug use will be suspended or terminated from service.

The conduct of random drug test among city employees is part of the continued effort of the administration to make City Hall a drug free workplace. Yesterday, more than 900 barangay tanods from 45 lowland barangays in the city were also subjected to the drug test.

Passing the drug test is one of the requirements before the barangay tanods can get their P4,000 monthly allowance from the city government. The barangay tanods are also required to submit their daily time record (DTR), individual accomplishment report, authority to serve and consolidated report of their respective chief tanod.

The authority to serve will be signed by the mayor signifying that the barangay tanod has undergone the drug test.

“Wala man koy laing way nga i-drug test silang tanan. So akong instruction tanang tanod nga absent, I will be asking for an explanation. If I am not satisfied with their explanation, I will strike them out for our financial assistance,” Lao said.

He said the barangay tanods were not aware that they will be subjected to the drug test because they were only told to report for a meeting to discuss the releasing of their monthly honoraria.

“Katong ma-positive, we will recommend for outright replacement. Ako man gyud giklaro sa mga kapitan, during our re-orientation sa atong Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) nga we will not maintain nga mga employees nga positive,” Lao said.

Lao said the results are expected to be out today.

Meanwhile, Lao said his office has already received positive feedbacks from the tanods about the release of their monthly allowance. He said the tanods are already happy that they are getting their honoraria on time.

“Ako lang sila gi-remind nga mo-submit on time para dili malangay. Wala tay backlog, walay pending sa akong office,” Lao said. (FREEMAN)