Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez said 10 out of 1,106 Victorias City government employees subjected to surprise drug tests this week tested positive for the use of shabu and marijuana.
The ten were job order workers, Benitez said on Thursday, September 1.
Nine were found positive for the use of methamphetamine or shabu and one for marijuana, he said.
The contracts of the job order workers found positive for the use drug will not be renewed on September 30, he said.
Those who tested positive will be given the option to undergo detoxification and rehabilitation at the Negros Occidental Drug Rehabilitation Center in Victorias, Benitez also said.
If the rehabilitation center says they have passed and are doing good, they may be reconsidered for rehiring, he said.
Benitez said he decided to have the unannounced drug tests conducted after the long weekend, with 971 tested on Tuesday, 129 on Wednesday and six on Thursday.
“We don’t tolerate the use of dangerous drugs in government offices, we want to ensure a drug-free workplace,” he said.
Fourteen of the 26 barangays in Victorias City are drug cleared, Benitez said.
He is aiming for all of the Victorias barangays to be drug cleared, he added.*