Number of drug-positive CH workers soars to 71

CEBU, Philippines — And then there were more.

Fourteen Cebu City Hall employees were found positive for illegal drug use in another round of random testing, bringing the number of drug-positive city government workers to 71 since the tests were rolled out last November.

Jonah John Rodriguez, head of the City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), said four of the 14 workers are from the City Health Department and another four are from the Cebu City Transportation Office.

Rodriguez said also found positive were two from the City Accounting Office; one from Department of Public Services; one from Department of Engineering and Public Works; one from Department of Social Welfare and Services; and one from the Office of the Mayor detailed to Management Information and Computer Services.

The workers under DPS, DEPW, and DSWS failed during the administered newly hired orientation.

Rodriguez said all results are subject to confirmatory test.

COSAP has been conducting surprise drug screenings since November 8, 2019.

Mayor Edgardo Labella earlier lauded office for the continuous drug screenings among the 5,000 City Hall workers. The mayor said that drug-positive workers will have to face the consequences.

Labella, however, assured that regular employees will be given due process while casual workers will not be renewed.

It was Labella who authored an ordinance requiring a drug test as pre-employment requirement for the City Hall when he was still a councilor.

Under the same ordinance, employees may also be subjected to random drug tests.

COSAP will continue conducting surprise drug tests among City Hall workers to make sure that the city government is drug-free, and in support of the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.  KQD (FREEMAN)