Council oks MOA for drug screening of workers at City Hall

The Cebu City Council has authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Drugcheck Philippines Inc. for drug test screening services it will provide to 3,750 employees of City Hall. The drug test kits cost P240 per person.

The council approved Councilor Margarita Osmeña’s resolution on the matter during the regular session last June 5.

Drugcheck will provide free confirmatory testing for those who initially test positive of shabu or marijuana.

They will also provide court assistance in cases where there are legal implications for employees confirmed to test positive of drug use.

In another development, two Cebu City officials support the directive of Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Debold Sinas to subject police officers and office personnel to a surprise drug test.

Mayor Osmeña said that this is an effective way to ensure a drugfree workplace. “The integrity of the police is very important. They should set the model and example,” he said.

Councilor Dave Tumulak shared the mayor’s sentiment.

“In a sense na makaayo ni sa (it will be good for the) police organization to see to it that their personnel are not involved in drugs. The City Government is willing to support them.

Sinas’s first marching order when he assumed office was to tell all the cops in the region to stay away from illegal drugs and other illegal activities.

He said that he was here to impose strict discipline and inititate internal cleansing among the region’s police force as ordered by Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde. /