CEBU, Philippines- The Cebu City Council yesterday approved the passage of amended City Ordinance 1829, which requires all City Hall workers, including the mayor and city councilors, to an annual drug screening.
The approved ordinance also subjects barangay officials and employees; and the police force, firefighters, and jail officers assigned in the city to the compulsory drug test as a pre-employment requirement.
“The ordinance can be a deterrent for drug use or substance abuse for all the officials, employees and peace officers assigned in the city… so that we can minimize, if not ensure, that all those who are in public service are drug-free,” said City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., who chairs the Committee on Public Order and Safety.
Archival said there is a need to expand the coverage and applicability of the ordinance in line with the intents of the Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He said the initiative aims to further strengthen the implementation of the programs and projects for the prevention of illegal drug use or substance abuse in the city government.
The Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council late last year requested for such amendment because the existing ordinance does not cover drug test on employees of the Cebu City government, barangay officials and workers, the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
The previous ordinance, approved in April 2000, was initiated by former city councilor and now Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who sits as the presiding officer of the legislative body.
During the special regular session yesterday, City Councilor Alvin Dizon backed the amended ordinance, but pushed for the inclusion of city officials to the test, saying people in higher positions should “set as good example.”
Under Section 1 of the existing ordinance, drug testing is mandated for all city government employees, regardless of their employment status, be it regular, casual or contractual.
Archival amended this by including barangay workers, barangay peace and security officers, and all peace and order officers or members assigned in the city to undergo the compulsory drug testing.
According to the existing measure, the drug tests shall be administered by the City Health Department in coordination with the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse and Prevention and shall be done in any government laboratories or by any drug testing laboratories or centers accredited and monitored by the Department of Health.
Further, those who will be found positive of illegal drug use will be referred to the City Legal Office and the Human Resource and Development Office for appropriate action.
Those who will refuse to submit to the drug test may face disciplinary action or administrative proceedings which may lead to dismissal from service.
The council’s Committee on Budget and Finance approved a yearly allocation of P500,000 from the city’s general fund for the annual random drug test and the drug test for pre-employment requirement for city workers. (FREEMAN)