BACOLOD City – Employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government are ready to undergo drug testing after allegations surfaced that several capitol workers were involved in the use and sale of illegal drugs.
Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) president Ruben Diamante said they fully support the proposal of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to conduct random drug tests.
The provincial government is making arrangements with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the random drug tests.
According to Diamante, they passed a resolution during their regular meeting on Saturday Aug. 5, that PACE members would voluntarily submit themselves to drug testing, and that they support the call of the governor and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz to have a “drug-free workplace.”
Diaz said the provincial government previously scheduled a bidding for the drug testing but this did not push through; there were no compliant bidders.
Diaz also said the contracts of service and job order employees who will test positive for drug use will not be renewed.
Previously, local government units in the province, including its capital Bacolod City, conducted a series of “surprise” drug tests among their employees.
In Bacolod City, a total of 53 employees of the city government tested positive for illegal drugs. (Watchmen Daily Journal)
