By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday that the number of drug-positive employees in the provincial government is not yet alarming.

Around 2,300 employees underwent drug tests earlier this month, which yielded 20 drug-positive results — 19 positive for shabu, and one for marijuana.

Meanwhile, 16 employees had traces of shabu in their urine specimen.

The provincial government employs around 4,000 personnel.

Lacson said even though the numbers are not that alarming, drug-positive employees will still face penalties.

The results of the confirmatory tests have yet to be released, as the provincial government is still buying drug test kits.

However, Lacson said they expect to release confirmatory test results within this month.

The status of the drug-positive employees has not yet been divulged by the provincial government.

Lacson said job order and contract of service employees tested positive for drug use will not be renewed when their contracts end on December 31, while regular employees will face administrative charges./DGB, WDJ