Koronadal city gov’t remains drug-free

The city government has practically remained drug-free based on results of the latest random drug tests for its officials and employees. (Photo: City of Koronadal/Facebook)

KORONADAL CITY — The city government has practically remained drug-free based on results of the latest random drug tests for its officials and employees.

Cyrus Urbano, city administrator, said Friday all city officials and employees who underwent the annual drug tests last Sept. 8 have yielded negative of using illegal drugs or any prohibited substance.

He said a total of 175 personnel were randomly selected for the tests, which was facilitated anew by personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12.

“We already received the results and we’re very happy that they were all negative,” Urbano said.

He said the favorable test results mainly meant that there are no drug users among their ranks and that the city government remains a drug-free institution.

As ordered by City Mayor Peter Miguel, Urbano said the tests were all unannounced to ensure the credibility of the results.

Dr. Glorio Sandig, City Anti-Drug Abuse Council action officer, said they made sure that none among their personnel had no prior information regarding the scheduled tests.

He said the subject employees were initially called by their human resources management officer to go to the city hall’s conference room.

“They were not allowed to go out of the room and we later announced that they would undergo drug tests. So it’s really a surprise test,” he said.

Sandig said another round of tests would soon be conducted for 18 more employees who were pre-selected but we’re not available for last week’s tests due to various reasons.

In the past years, the local government had dismissed several employees after being found positive of using illegal drugs.

Last year, none among the city officials and employees who were subjected to the tests yielded positive of drug use.

The city government had been conducting annual “surprise” random drug tests for its officials and employees in the last four years.

The move was in support of the national government continuing campaign against illegal drugs.