BACOLOD CITY – The city government here will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the strict implementation of the national Drug-Free Workplace Program.
Under the program, business establishments employing more than 10 workers are mandated to implement and formulate drug abuse prevention and control programs in the workplace.
Executive Assistant Samuel Montoyo, city anti-drug abuse program coordinator, said the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs issued an order on 2 Dec. 2019 directing the city government to deny issuance of business permits if the application or renewal lacks a DOLE certification.
Businesses with more than 10 workers must require their employees to undergo drug testing.
Montoyo said PDEA will conduct the drug testing before DOLE will issue a certification.
Businesses having less than 10 employees should get a clearance from DOLE to exempt them to undergo drug testing.
Montoyo said upon the effectivity of the MOA, the certification from DOLE will be a prerequisite for business establishments before they will be given a business permit.
“This is one strategy to prevent or at least, minimize the use of illegal drugs in the workplace,” Montoyo said.