ILOILO City – From seven, the number of city hall job hires who flunked the random drug testing of the city government rose to 13.
Data from the Uswag Molecular Laboratory showed that 11 tested positive for shabu while two were positive for marijuana.
There were more or less 3,000 job hires and contract of service (CoS) employees at city hall.
So far, 2,068 of them underwent drug testing, of which 2,055 were negative for illegal drug use.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said those positive for drug use will be fired and referred to the police and the barangay concerned for rehabilitation.
However, he said they may be rehired by the city government after undergoing rehabilitation and testing negative for drug use.
One of the job hires who tested positive for illegal drugs was a driver of the city’s beautification team.
“Nasuboan to si (beautification head) Ninda (Atinado) kay driver ‘ya kag nasaligan ‘ya. Pero wala ‘ta mahimo. Kon mahatag kita exception sa iban, we have no reason nga indi ta pag ihatag sa iban man,” the city mayor added.
Meanwhile, Treñas said random drug testing among job hires and CoS employees is continuous while it can be voluntary for regular employees of the city government.
“Ang regular employee lain nga istorya. We have to go through a certain process nga kinanglan ga-agree siya nga mapa-drug test. Unlike sa job hires it is a requirement for employment. Kon mag-voluntary lang sila ‘ya nga magpa-test, we will be happy to accommodate them,” said Treñas.
Through Executive Order (EO) No. 05-2023 issued early this month, Treñas ordered random drug testing among job hires and CoS workers.
He directed the Uswag Molecular Laboratory to do the testing.
The city mayor wanted to keep the city government drug-free, citing Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 2-2004, and the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 13-2010.
“Iloilo City has various programs and activities designed to eliminate the illegal drug problem… not only within the city hall premises but including its field departments and offices and its 180 barangays,” read part of the EO.
It was also emphasized that results of the drug tests shall remain strictly confidential and shall abide with the Data Privacy Act of 201./PN
