Over 60 gov’t workers in Cebu positive of drug use

THERE were more than 60 government workers from the Cebu Capitol and the town and cities of the province who turned out to be positive of illegal drug use, but none has submitted for treatment or showed interest to undergo rehabilitation program.

Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) Director Ivy Durano-Meca said those found positive of illegal drug use are mostly employees of local government units in the province.

“When we started (this random drug testing), wala g’yud ni-approach sa atong office nga gusto siya magparehab (nobody approached us that they want to undergo rehab),” Meca said.

According to Meca, CPADAO started the random drug testing in the different LGUs, offices in the Capitol, province-ran hospitals, schools and barangays since June this year.

So far, the office has tested 3,177 individuals from 26 offices and LGUs, or up to October.

Based on the data of CPADAO, there were 10 Capitol workers from three offices who tested positive of illegal drugs, 32 people from 14 LGUs, 23 LGU-supervised tour guides for the canyoneering activities in the towns of Alegria and Badian and two workers from three provincial district hospitals.

Meca said the 10 employees from Capitol have been fired, but she would not know what were the actions taken by LGUs about their drug use–positive workers.

Meca said they have yet to schedule a new random drug test schedule for Capitol employees after the last test done in September at the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT).

But they have done random tests this week in Barangays Poblacion, Tuburan and Tabok in Danao City, where three barangay tanods (village watchmen) from Poblacion turned out positive of drug use.

According to Meca, it appeared that those who tested positive are still in denial stage, the reason why they refused to undergo treatment.

She said it should not be difficult for them to ask for treatment since CPADAO welcomes people from the province who wants to undergo treatment or rehabilitation.

The province has no rehabilitation facility, but Capitol is willing to pay for the rehabilitation cost in a private facility should they wish to undergo treatment, added Meca.

“It was being discussed with the governor (Hilario Davide III) nga once moguwa ang executive order, nay magpositive, we will asses them according sa degree sa addiction. We will refer them if necessary g’yud siya isulod og treatment or rehabilitation. Mahatagan silag chance matreated sila (once the executive order will be out, those who will test positive will be assessed according to the degree of their addiction. And we will admit them to treatment facility if necessary. The Capitol will give them a chance to be treated),” Meca said.