A random drug testing was conducted to the City Officials and employees of the City Government of Victorias and its national agencies right after the regular flag raising ceremony at Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts and Cultural Center last Aug. 30.
The administration of Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, in coordination with Philippine National Police of Victorias City and City Health Office, administered an unannounced drug testing to 971 City employees – permanent, casual, contractual, and job orders.
This was regulated after DILG’s recognition to Barangays X and XII which are drug-cleared barangays of the City.
During Benitez’ message, he emphasized that the current administration of the City of Victorias highlights a clean governance, and that includes having drug-free public servants. He highlighted his aim to ensure that the public servants adhere to his vision of having a clean government.
In the succeeding days, Aug. 31, 129 undergone the test and 6 more today, Sept. 1, and out of 1,106, nine tested positive for methamphetamines and one for Marijuana.
The employees who tested positive will no longer be renewed while those who opt to be rehabilitated, the City will shoulder the rehabilitation cost.
The City imposed a strict drug-testing system wherein no one was an exemption to the regulations set. The City Health Office and the Philippine National Police closely guarded the comfort rooms, and exits of the venue.
This is pursuant to the mandates of the 1987 Constitution and the Administrative Code of 1987 to ensure that morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy shall be widely observed in the civil service and to ensure that government service shall be drug-free as provided by the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
