DRUG-FREE. Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez shows a thumbs-up sign after testing negative for illegal drug use on Tuesday (Aug. 1, 2023). Benitez voluntarily submitted himself to a urine rapid drug test with the assistance of City Health Office personnel to lead the public drug testing for elected city officials and employees. (PNA photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
BACOLOD CITY – The city government here is encouraging city officials and employees to undergo drug tests to ensure the public of a drug-free bureaucracy, after a series of random tests held since last week showed users among the city's security and traffic personnel.
City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Thursday that while an ordinance requiring all those working under the local government unit to undergo a drug test is still being deliberated, the city government "strongly encourages" them to submit to a test.
"Eventually, everyone will have to go through that testing. If you are not hiding anything, you will submit to such initiative of the city to ensure that everyone is drug-free here," Maghari said.
Data on Wednesday showed at least 53 workers assigned at the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) and Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) have tested positive for illegal drug use.
"Maybe this will be a call to all public officials to do the same. To be fair to all, we can do a public testing,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez had earlier said.
On Tuesday, Benitez, with assistance from personnel of the City Health Office, voluntarily submitted himself to a urine rapid drug test, which showed that he is negative for the use of illegal drugs.
“We will come up with a system to identify who among our employees – job order, plantilla, casual – are either using or engaging in illegal substance. This is why we started with BTAO and POSO,” he said. “It’s proper so that the general public will have confidence that our government servants are not involved in the use of any illegal substance.”
Testing from July 28 to Aug. 1 involved 282 traffic enforcers under the BTAO and 381 POSO personnel.
Of the 663 employees who underwent the test, 53 yielded positive results, including 32 from BTAO and 21 from POSO.
Aside from personnel of the two offices, 42 others from various units under the city government also underwent testing, all of whom were negative for illegal drug use.
Benitez said those who turned out positive would be terminated and endorsed for drug rehabilitation.
“If they turn out to be better and can recover from their condition, then they may be reconsidered,” he added.
POSO head Primitivo Tabujara said they want to ensure that personnel under him, as well as those from BTAO, are drug-free since they perform front-line duties.
“My recommendation is to temporarily terminate them and undergo rehabilitation program so they can qualify for re-employment. The program is free under the city government,” he added. (PNA)
