3 barangay workers test positive for illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Three employees of Barangay Suba, Cebu City are in danger of losing their jobs after they were found positive in a surprise drug test yesterday.

The other 70 barangay tanods and garbage loaders from Barangays Suba, Sawang Calero and Duljo Fatima can now heave a sigh of relief as their tests yielded negative results.

Of the three workers, two are garbage truck loaders and one driver.

However, results which showed them positive for illegal drugs are still subject to confirmatory tests.

Both Duljo Fatima Barangay Captain Elmer Abella  and Suba Barangay Captain Joel Sable Jr. said those positive will be terminated from service if the confirmatory test, which will be out next month, would still yield positive result.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has warned that workers positive for illegal drug use will be fired from their posts.

Dr. Alice Utlang, head of the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse and Prevention, earlier said those who will be confirmed positive will be referred to undergo rehabilitation program for three months under the city's We Care Program.

She said the barangays have also the option to terminate these workers.

“Kay bisag unsaon na sila, adik, mosuyop man gihapon na. Wa gyo’y ikasulti ang mga tao ba,” Sawang Calero Barangay Captain Ariel Iburan, for his part, said.

Nicacio Ompad, a tanod of barangay Suba, said it would be better if there would be a drug test conducted every three months.

“Mas nindot ni siya para ang mga tanod nga badlungon, mataktak gyod. Mao ma’y tigbadlong sa mga badlungon unya manuyop pud  ang mga tanod, so angay tangtangon,” Ompad said.

Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor on police matters, said barangay workers who failed to undergo yesterday’s test will still be subjected to a surprise drug test.

Tumulak said only 90 percent of the tanods and garbage loaders submitted themselves to the test.

Some tanods and garbage loaders of Barangays Suba and Sawang Calero were not able to undergo the test because they were reportedly working at the time. The drug test, which was administered by COSAP, was held at the Cebu City Sports Institute in Barangay Sawang Calero.

Tumulak said since the safety of the residents are of paramount concern, the drug test was done.

“The drug test is part of the barangay tanods’ evaluation to see if they are really serving their barangays and to also ensure the safety of the residents,” he said.

Conducting a surprise drug test on barangay and city workers is also a way of supporting the current administration in curbing illegal drugs in the country.

Withheld honoraria

Barangay tanods and garbage loaders of Sawang Calero and Duljo Fatima continue to work for their respective barangays even without honoraria from the city government for the sake of helping other people.

 “Ako sila gipangutana, unsa man mo? Mag sige pa mo? Dili man ko mamugos ninyo. Apan ingon sila wala’y problema, bahala wala’y counterpart ang city basta ilang serbisyo magpadayon ug magpabilin sila nako,” Abella said.

Osmeña said he would soon restore the honoraria to barangay tanods and garbage loaders.

“Daghan kaayong wa motrabaho, ato sa nang limpyuhon ha,” he said.

The city government has recently withheld the honoraria of over 1,000 barangay tanods and garbage loaders pending performance evaluation.

Osmeña issued a memorandum dated January 24 to all the barangays that effective February 1, the city government will no longer give honoraria to tanods and garbage loaders due to budget limitations.

The city government has allocated P115 million for the honoraria of tanods and P50 million for garbage loaders this year, the same amount budgeted last year. Each tanod gets P4,000 from the city while P5,000 for the garbage loaders. — Vania Mae Lim (FREEMAN)