19 Negros Occidental gov’t workers positive for drugs

BACOLOD CITY — Nineteen employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government have tested positive for the use of illegal drugs.

These include three permanent employees, seven job order (JO) workers, three contract of service workers (COS), and six blue guards, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz on Monday, Jan. 13.

The contracts of the COS and JO workers that ended in December, he said, were not renewed for the New Year.

The blue guards, who belong to an agency, were not allowed to continue work at provincial government facilities.

Diaz said the permanent employees were subjected to confirmatory testing and have the option to undergo rehabilitation if they wish to be reinstated.

“If they do not undergo rehabilitation, they will be charged with grave misconduct,” he said.

The 19 employees who tested positive for the use of illegal drugs were among the 1,800 who underwent drug tests on Dec. 17, 18, and 19 at the Capitol in Bacolod City.

Random drug testing is a mandatory requirement of the Civil Service Commission through Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for a drug-free workplace.

The Negros Occidental provincial government has an ongoing drug testing program to make sure their employees are free from narcotics and perform their duties well.

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