Capitol to buy more drug test kits to cover all employees

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said that the provincial government will purchase additional drug test kits to cover all employees in the mandatory drug test.

Diaz said that seven more capitol employees tested positive for the use of illegal drugs, increasing to 27 the total number of provincial government workers that tested positive.

Five of the seven are assigned to the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, while the two work at the Cadiz District Hospital.

Diaz declined to reveal how many of them are regular, casual, contract of service, and job order employees.

He said he would only reveal the details after their confirmatory tests come out in January 2024.

Diaz further said that five of the seven capitol employees who were added to the list were positive for shabu, while the two had been using marijuana.

Earlier, Diaz said a total of 36 employees will be subjected to confirmatory tests for the use of illegal drugs after the two-day mandatory drug test conducted by the provincial government on December 11 and 12 for all its employees.

Of the 36 persons, 19 tested positive for the use of shabu and one for marijuana.

Diaz also revealed that drug testing results indicated that 16 other capitol employees had faint traces of shabu use.

All 36 employees will be subjected to confirmatory tests, Diaz added.

More than 2,300 of the Capitol workforce numbering approximately 3,400 underwent drug testing.

Diaz added that the provincial government will purchase additional drug testing kits to cover the remaining employees assigned at provincial government-managed district hospitals.