By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Four local government employees of La Carlota City in Negros Occidental underwent confirmatory tests after they reportedly tested positive for drug use last week.

La Carlota Mayor Rex Jalando-on said in a radio interview, that three employees tested negative in the confirmatory test, while the fourth one, a regular employee, tested positive.

Jalando-on said the drug-positive employee cannot be removed immediately, but instead, undergo a program to determine the employee’s level of drug dependency, and drug rehabilitation.

A total of 674 city government employees underwent drug testing conducted by the City Health Office and the La Carlota City Police Station last week.

The 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, several LGUs in Negros Occidental, including at the provincial capitol, held a series of surprise or random drug tests.

More than a dozen employees 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