By JEN BAYLON

More than 1,800 employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government underwent surprise drug testing yesterday.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II said this was the second batch of employees undergoing drug tests last December 11 and 12.

Diaz said no one was exempt from the mandatory testing, which reflects the administration’s commitment to maintaining a drug-free environment.

The initiative, part of a broader anti-drug campaign, aims to ensure a drug-free workplace and promote accountability among public servants.

Diaz said the tests were conducted smoothly, with no refusals reported among the participants.

Regular employees who tested positive for illegal drugs will be given a chance to undergo a rehabilitation program at their own expense, while job order and casual workers will not have their contracts renewed.

Additional confirmatory tests will be administered to those who tested positive or whose results were inconclusive.

The policy is designed to deter drug use within the ranks of provincial employees and reinforce the importance of maintaining a professional and responsible workforce.

The provincial government plans to continue its anti-drug efforts by conducting further testing in provincial hospitals and other government facilities./JB, WDJ