12 baragay workers in Guadalupe, Sapangdaku to lose jobs

CEBU, Philippines — At least 12 barangay workers in Guadalupe and Sapangdaku in Cebu City are expected to lose their jobs after they were tested positive of illegal drug use.

Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) head Garry Lao said eight workers are from Barangay Guadalupe while four are from Sapangdaku.

“COSAP recommends for the termination of workers who are found to be using illegal drugs since we want a drug-free workplace,” he said.

Last Monday, COSAP conducted the surprise drug test of 356 barangay workers of Guadalupe and Sapangdaku. Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan said he will terminate the workers that are using drugs.

“Nihatag ko’g chance sa una kay biktima man sila ana. Tagaan og higayon nga makabalik. Pero karon, pasensyahay na gyud. Dili na pwede kay gusto tang ma drug-free gyud ang barangay,” Gacasan said.

 Gacasan, however, said he was not informed yet of the identity of those eight barangay workers who were tested positive of illegal drug use. But he is certain that they will be terminated from service as he will not tolerate their involvement in illegal drugs.

Gacasan said the barangay even asked the garbage loaders to bring their wives in getting their honoraria to ensure that the salaries will go to their families. Last Wednesday, Lao said COSAP also facilitated the surprise drug test in Barangay Cogon Pardo. He said only 106 out of 124 workers were around. The results are yet to be released.

Lao said the barangay captain will have to take the necessary action against those who did not report for work during the drug test.

Lao explained that the drug test is part of the efforts to make the city government and the barangays drug-free. Last month, he said he communicated to the barangay captains to terminate all barangay workers who are positive for drugs.

“The Cebu City Government’s drive for a drug-free community, especially in the work environments, has been widely disseminated through constant information campaign. There is no reason therefore, for barangay tanods not to know about the City Hall’s drive against illegal drugs because in fact, it is the barangay tanods who act as frontliners for this campaign spearheaded by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention,” he said in the letter.

In September this year, at least 23 barangay tanods were terminated from the service after they were also found positive of illegal drug use.

Lao said the barangay captains should take part in making the barangays drug-free community by not tolerating their workers. He said COSAP can only recommend for the termination from service of these erring workers since the barangay captains have the final authority.

He, however, reminded the barangay captains to take COSAP’s recommendation seriously because barangay workers who are also getting honoraria from the city government.

“Also, the barangay tanods are receiving monthly honorarium from the Cebu City Government primarily to help in the anti-illegal drugs campaign. It is in this light that the COSAP is recommending for the termination of services of barangay tanods whose drug tests turned out positive,” Lao added.

Association of Barangay Councils Cebu City Chapter President Franklyn Ong supports the recommendation of Lao.

Ong, who is also barangay captain of Kasambagan, said a drug-free workplace starts within the barangay. Aside from the barangays, COSAP also conducts random drug tests for City Hall employees.

As of September, at least 1,464 city employees from 18 departments and offices of City Hall have been tested. At least 36 of them were found positive for illegal drug use. — FPL (FREEMAN)