FOUR employees of barangay Inayawan in Cebu City were found positive of using illegal drugs in a random test conducted by the City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) on Thursday.
There were 120 employees who underwent the drug test.
Aside from the four who tested possible, one signed an admission addressed to Barangay Captain Lutherlee Ignacio-Soon that he is a drug user.
Soon said that he and the council have already discussed that if employees will test positive in the random drug test, they will be suspended and rehabilitated.
If they refuse, they will be dismissed from service.
Soon added that she already had suspicions that there are drug users among her employees and the best way to confirm it is a surprise drug test.
Dr. Alice Utlang of COSAP said they have conducted drug tests in 40 barangays already since February up to July this year.
Out of the 40, barangays Taptap, Pulangbato, Lusaran, Budlaan and Tabunan are considered drug-free workplaces.
Last year, barangays Buhisan, Talamban and Agsungot are in the list of drug-free workplaces but this year, some of their workers tested positive in the test.
“The barangays need to strengthen their campaign against illegal drugs and those found positive should undergo rehabilitation,” says Utlang.
As of July, there are 28 barangay workers who have undergone counselling and rehabilitation under COSAP’s program.
However, only two of them — one from Apas and one from Talamban — were able to complete the process.
“We continue to conduct rehabilitation. These are victims of illegal drugs. If they see the significant value of attending sessions, they can be healed and get their lives back again,” says Utlang.
Most of those tested positive of drug use are barangay tanods, loaders, administrative staffs, health workers and drivers.