ILOILO – A total of 145 officials and employees of the Bingawan local government were subjected to unannounced drug testing on Wednesday, Oct. 26, as part of the town’s effort to maintain a drug-free municipal hall.
Personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6) conducted the drug testing.
Mayor Mark Palabrica said “100 percent” of municipal officials and employees, including him and the Sangguniang Bayan members, submitted themselves to drug tests.
Also included were Rural Health Unit (RHU) employees, job hires, truck drivers, and responders.
“They have no idea that we have to conduct a drug test. I told them we have a general meeting to be conducted at the gym. All of them complied and submitted their urine samples to PDEA personnel,” Palabrica said.
Yesterday, it was announced that all drug tests yielded negative results.
The mayor further said this was the second time he obliged municipal officials and employees to undergo drug testing.
The last drug test was conducted in 2017 and no one tested positive for drug use.
“If ever may mag-positive, ma-undergo s’ya rehabilitation process or they can contest. Gusto ko ipakita sa tawo nga serious kita sa campaign against illegal drugs, kag ang banwa sang Bingawan is a drug-free workplace,” Palabrica said.
The mayor also said the local government is spearheading a sustainable drug-free workplace and preparing for PDEA’s Balangay Seal of Excellence Award – the highest award given by the national government to local government units that pursue relentless efforts to curb illegal drugs./PN
