By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A surprise drug testing was administered to 674 government employees in Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City on Thursday, September 14.

La Carlota Mayor Rex Jalando-on said the employees who underwent testing include regulars, job orders, and casual staff.

Jalando-on led the activity together with the City Health Office and the La Carlota City Police Station.

The drug testing was also in compliance with City Ordinance 2022-011, which promotes a drug-free workplace within the local government unit (LGU).

The mayor added that failure to comply with the drug test requirement may result in administrative offenses in accordance with the ordinance.

A few months ago, LGUs in Negros Occidental, including the provincial capitol, held a series of surprise or random drug tests.

More than a dozen employees from different LGUs tested positive for drug use and were immediately sacked from their respective posts.

In capital Bacolod City, 53 regular and job order city government employees who tested positive for illegal drug use were told to voluntarily submit themselves to police.

They were given a chance to undergo drug rehabilitation.

However, only 39 heeded the call, the City Anti-drug Abuse Council said./DGB, WDJ