quisumbing
ABOUT 26 of 40 department heads and officials tested negative in a surprise drug test at the Mandaue City Hall grounds yesterday morning.
City Administrator Danilo Almendras said City Hall employees and department heads were reminded last Friday to attend a meeting after the weekly flag-raising ceremony.
Almendras said some department heads were in Tacloban, Leyte and in Baguio attending seminars and other prior commitments.
In yesterday’s press conference, Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing said about 18 barangay officials out of 27 underwent a drug test at 2 p.m. and all tested negative as well.
Those who failed to undergo the drug test conducted by the Mandaue City Health Office with the regional Department of Health (DOH-7) will take it at an unannounced date.
“Most of them were either here or knew they will not be here because of previously approved appointments,” Quisumbing said.
Mayor Quisumbing said the DOH allocated 5,000 drug testing kits for the city government.
The mayor said City Hall employees will undergo a drug test first and they will be followed by barangay employees./Xavier University Intern April Alexis B. Agustin