42 city, province workers positive of illegal drug use

FORTY TWO government employees in Cebu City and Cebu Province were positive of illegal drug use in separate surprise drug tests since January.

In Cebu province, Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano-Meca, said that of the 2,559 employees from different local government units and police stations where they conducted surprise drug tests, nine were found positive of illegal drug use.

Durano-Meca said that these are a police officer and eight municipal and city employees of the province.

She also said that most of those employees who tested positive were job order employees.

In Cebu City, Garry Gao, City Office on Substance Abuse and Prevention head, said that of the 734 employees, who had undergone the drug tests, 33 of them were found positive of drug use.

On Tuesday, 15 workers from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) were found positive.

All of them last month, at least 15 Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) were also found positive for illegal drug use.

They were all terminated from service since they are only city volunteers and are not regular employees, Lao said.

Also, out of the 100 workers from the City’s Assessors Office, two personnel — casual and JO employees — have been found positive during the surprise drug test yesterday (Friday). Both are subject for termination.

This is the tenth round of drug screenings conducted by COSAP this year, and the first one for the City Assessors Office.