By Jennifer P. Rendon
Three cities were chosen as pilot areas in the implementation of the drug-free workplace program in private establishments in Western Visayas.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6 officer-in-charge Alex Tablate identified these areas as Iloilo, Bacolod, and Passi cities.
Dubbed “Oplan Kalasag,” the program is a collaborative effort of PDEA, the concerned local government units, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and business sectors to promote a drug-free workplace and community.
To jumpstart the program implementation at the three pilot areas, ablate met the three LGU executives morning of Jan. 28, 2020.
In attendance were Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City; Samuel Montoyo, Executive Assistant from the Office Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia; and Horace Anthony Panes of Passi City.
PDEA-6 acting assistant regional director Christina Cabatinga and PDEA6 information officer Ma. Graziella Tanaleon presented the proposed Memorandum of Agreement between PDEA, the LGUs, and DOLE for the program implementation.
The Oplan Kalasag: Advocacy on Drug-Free Workplace and Empowering Administrators, Frontliners and Security Officers of hotels, restaurants, bars, subdivisions, condominiums, and warehouses, complies with Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
It is also in consonance with DOLE Department Order 53-03, Series of 2003 which provides guidelines for the implementation of Drug-Free Workplace Policies and Programs for the Private Sector.
Tablate said he saw the need for pilot testing to determine what are the adjustments, reconsiderations, and recommendations that need to be done before going on full blast.
“We deemed the importance of the program to be institutionalized first before we would fully implement it all over the region,” he said.
Tablate recognized that the task won’t be easy considering that several LGUs have thousands of businesses under them.
In the case of Iloilo City, there are an estimated 17,000 registered businesses.
Tablate said they have anticipated the need for massive information dissemination about the program.
Together with DOLE, he said they will prepare establishments for the project’s implementation through a series of lectures.
Tablate earlier said that Oplan Kalasag would be a big boost to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
He said that it is part of their holistic approach in ending the drug menace that has plagued workplaces and communities.
