Governor Anthony del Rosario, Vice Governor Allan Dujali, Board Members and Department Heads test negative for drugs after voluntarily submitting for a random drug testing conducted yesterday, 19 September 2016.
“Negative, all negative. Tanang board members including our Governor and vice governor and all department heads [Negative, all negative. All board members including our Governor and Vice Governor and all department heads],” clarified PDEA Provincial Director for Davao del Norte & ComVal Province Clodito Cañada about the results of the random drug test yesterday.
Spearheaded by Gov. AGR, the 26 officials followed suit to show their support to President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs.
“Kining atong ginahimong random drug test, usa gyod ni sa atong mga steps to ensure nga ang atong mga opisyales ug mga empleyado sa Kapitolyo are really free from drugs [This random drug test is one of our steps to ensure that our officials and employees (in the Capitol) are really free from drugs],” stated Gov. AGR on the objective of the said random drug test.
Apart from the Capitol officials, the Governor relayed that the Drug-Free Workplace Committee, which he chaired, agreed that all empoyees will undergo random drug test to be conducted annually.
“Mao na ang among recommendation nga yearly gyod dapat kay especially kining mga job orders nato ug kining mga casuals, every six months gina-renew. We have to make sure nga bisan casuals lang sila, job orders lang sila, kinahanglan gyod nato nga ang atong environment dire sa province is drug-free [This is our recommendation, to conduct it yearly. especially that our Job Orders and Casual (employees) are renewed every six months. We have to make sure even though they are Casual and Job Orders (employees), our environment here in the province (remains) drug-free],” further expressed by the Governor.
Should an employee tests positive for drugs, Governor AGR explained that they will follow due process in accordance to Administrative Order based on RA 9165. Results will be made confidential and the employee will be given a chance for rehabilitation.
“Once you are found to be positive, the process will be a re-confirmation, another test to be done on the same urine sample to make sure nga positive ka. Kung mogawas gyod sa confirmation nga positive ka, then we will have to take steps in order to ensure nga ang empleyado nga that is found positive will be able to undergo rehabilitation. So dili ginapasabot nga pag ka first offense ka tanggalon na ka sa trabaho. We will give them another chance. . . Now kung later on we do another surprise test and then it turned out nga positive na pod for the second time then that will be grounds for termination, [One you are found to be positive, the process will be a reconfirmation, another test to be done on the same urine sample to make sure that you really tested positive. If it is confirmed positive, then we will have to take steps in order to ensure that the employee will be able to undergo rehabilitation. First offense does not mean immediate dismissal from employment. We will give them another chance... Now if later on we do another surprise test and then it turned out to be positive for the second time then that will be grounds for termination,” the Governer stated.
Vice Governor Allan Dujali headed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in submitting themselves to the random drug test.
Aside from Gov. AGR and Vice Gov. Dujali, the committee on Drug-Free Workplace included Dr. Agapito Hornido (PHO), Arlene Semblante (PSWDO), Monica Salido (PHRMO), Eliza Andin (PEEDO), Atty. Jennifer Namoc-Yasol (PLO), Atty Ed Mark Wakan (PGSO), Rev Pastor Santos (religious) and Provincial Administrator Sammy Sanchez.
