GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The city government is set to conduct another round of surprise drug tests for all city employees.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Monday the move is part of the local government’s continuing efforts to cleanse its ranks of illegal drug users or dependents and those involved in drug-related activities.
He said the drug testing was among the priority initiatives set this year under its flagship “Purok Laban sa Krimen” program.
The anti-drug program, which started two years ago, mainly seeks to cleanse local communities of illegal drug users and pushers through various joint activities that includes awareness or education, rehabilitation of users and enforcement.
The mayor said the program has shifted its focus to the household level and set family-based targets, among them the certification by family heads that there are no drug users among their members.
“As for the local government, I should be able to certify also that there are no employees and officials who are involved in illegal drugs,” Rivera said.
He noted that it is a continuing qualification for all city government personnel to be free from illegal drugs.
In the past years, a number of employees of the city government were dismissed from service after yielding positive of illegal drug use.
Several employees were also arrested for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade and related activities.
The city government had assured that it is ready to fund the conduct of the drug tests, which costs around P300 per kit.
It will cover regular, co-terminus and contractual or job order personnel of city government offices and units.
Last week, the City Council or Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution for the conduct of mandatory drug tests for all its members.
Such move came amid speculations that four city councilors were allegedly included in the government’s drug watch list.
Officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12, which was named as the supposed source, have denied such report. (PNA)
