BACOLOD City – All city government employees will be subjected to drug testing in relation to Executive Order (EO) No. 42 for the establishment and implementation of a drug-free workplace program in the city.
The EO, issued by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez last month, stated that the Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, requires the conduct of random drug testing on all public officials and employees and the establishment of a drug-free workplace.
Mayor Benitez also said that the Dangerous Drugs Board Resolution No. 13, series of 2018 calls for the establishment and institutionalization of a drug-free workplace in all government offices including the conduct of drug testing.
Primitivo Tabujara, focal person and coordinator of the City Anti-Drug Abused Council (CADAC), said there is no date yet for the conduct of the drug testing but it will be carried out before the end of this year.
The city government, Tabujara said, is currently in the process of procuring drug test kits. Approximately P400,000 in fund was allocated for the test kits.
Once the procurement process is completed, the City Health Office (CHO) should register the test kits with the Department of Health (DOH). And upon the approval of the DOH, the city government could begin the mandatory drug testing.
The said program would ensure a safe and healthy working environment for the employees and officials of the city government, the EO stated./PN
