Most village employees test positive for drug use

Cebu City’s barangay officials were challenged anew to clear their areas of drug users and pushers after results of drug tests showed a rising number of barangay workers testing positive for drug use.

Dr. Alice Utlang, chief of the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap), said she considered as “very alarming” that 92 out of 1,616 barangay employees initially tested positive of drug use from January to April this year.

She said Cosap conducted surprise drug tests on tanods and garbage loaders in 40 out of the city’s 80 barangays, and they finished conducting tests on another eight barangays last week.

Dr. Utlang said they are still waiting for the results of the confirmatory tests for the 92 employees.

“It’s very alarming because these are supposed to be government offices,” Utlang said.

Among those barangays already tested by Cosap are Kasambagan, Banilad, Tejero, Bonbon, Talamban, Poblacion Pardo and Malubog.

Only Barangay Banilad has been declared as a drug-free workplace by Cosap.

The conduct of surprise drug tests among barangay and city officials and employees is mandated by a Cebu City ordinance.

Utlang said they will continue conducting surprise drug tests with the remaining barangays.

She specifically mentioned Barangays Day-as and Hipodromo which have not been tested since 2014.

Utlang said this is because the barangay officials have not coordinated with her office to schedule a drug testing for their employees.

She said they will be reporting the two barangays to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for any sanctions if they still fail to cooperate this year.

Although it is the barangay officials that would request for a drug test, Utlang said Cosap will decide on the undisclosed schedule for the testing.

Utlang also pleaded to the barangays not to put any political color in their office’s conduct of drug tests.

“Drug control and prevention should not be given any color. This is a challenge for barangays if they are really serious and if they are really not supporting drug lords and they’re not protectors. They should get rid of their employees that are drug users,” she said.

Dr. Utlang said those proven to be using illegal drugs should not just be terminated but enrolled in a rehabilitation program.

“It should start with the barangay officials. How can they solve the drug problem in their barangay when they cannot even stop it among their employees?” she said.