Batac council job order workers undergo surprise drug test

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Batac City—Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Ronald Allan M. Nalupta reported that all 21 job order workers of the council underwent an on-the-spot drug test on Feb. 4 at the council’s session hall

Mr. Nalupta explained that this is not the first surprise drug test for the said workers as this is one of the prerequisites for their contract renewal.

However, he also stressed that the drug testing is not forced upon them as they had the prerogative to reject the drug testing. Those who would choose not to undergo drug testing would not be re-hired.

Most of the job order workers of the council are secretaries or assistants of councilors. The drug testing is also only being done at the council.

Mr. Nalupta explained further that since job order workers need renewal every six months, they are the only ones subjected to surprise drug testing. Permanent employees at the council also undergo the same procedure but on a less frequency.

Mr. Nalupta also disclosed that this year’s drug testing expense is sourced from the job order employees themselves after the Commission on Audit disallowed the drug testing expense after being allowed in the past. The drug testing cost P55 per employee.

As for the drug test results, Mr. Nalupta said those who tested negative are immediately renewed while those who tested positive are not renewed.

Mr. Nalupta related that one employee has tested positive last year. The said employee was tested again and with the same result was later terminated.

City health office medical technologist Joy Racacho said methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” stays in a person’s system for three to four days while it is 10 days for marijuana.

As such, she said drug testing should be held on-the-spot or unannounced.

Ms. Racacho confirmed all the job order workers who underwent the said procedure were all negative based on their urine rapid tests. The said test produce results after five minutes.

Should an employee test positive, Ms. Racacho said a confirmatory test would be done at a hospital.

In a random interview with the job order employees, they said they are in favor of the surprise drug test to prove that they are not users of any illegal drugs.

The surprise drug testing was a special request of the vice mayor to the city health officer Dr. Alice Agbayani.

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