6 Talisay traffic enforcers drug positive

Six Talisay City traffic enforcers were found positive for drug use in a surprise drug test conducted by Talisay's City Health office and Human Resources Management Office (HRMO), Thursday afternoon.

HRMO head Emely Cabrera said they gathered the personnel of the City of Talisay Traffic Operations Development Authority (CT-TODA) for a meeting on Thursday to discuss traffic operations in relation to schools opening and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Tabunok Public Market, as well as to take up several complaints regarding traffic management.

As the discussion ended at around 3p.m., HRMO then announced that they will be conducting drug tests immediately.

Of 85 CT-TODA personnel, six traffic enforcers tested positive while one failed to submit his specimen and four others were absent during the activity.

Cabrera said that the one who failed to submit his specimen will also be considered positive for drug use.

Those who tested positive are all job order employees and their services will be terminated on June 30, Cabrera said.

CT-TODA head Almond Dela Peña said the four who were not present during the meeting and subsequent drug test have been mandated to submit their letter of explanation to Cabrera who will then determine whether their reasons are valid.

Dela Peña added that prior to the surprise drug test, he had already suspected that some CTTODA personnel were drug users.

He said that the meeting was the perfect time to conduct the drug test on traffic enforcers as traffic operations have continued because of the opening of classes and the rehabilitation work on the Tabunok market.

"Dugay na ni nako gi-huna-huna. Karon, gitiming sa panahon labi na karon kay sunod-sunod gyud ang trabaho... Gusto ko mahibaw-an unsa gyud ilang performance sa pagpanarbaho ug at least ma-evaluate kinsa tarong nga enforcer," he said.

Talisay City's After Care and Out-Patient Program head Dr. Rey Bautista encouraged those who tested positive to visit their office.

"We will always welcome them, we will provide free treatment and out-based rehabilitation treatment just like what we did to others," he said.