• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Ten employees of the Negros Occidental provincial government tested positive for illegal drug use based on confirmatory test results released by the Department of Health (DOH).
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said on Wednesday, Nov. 11 that 11 of the 14 samples submitted to the DOH for confirmatory testing have been returned, with 10 testing positive and one negative.
“Three results are still pending,” Diaz said.
The employees initially tested positive during a random drug testing conducted last month among 1,962 provincial government personnel assigned to seven provincial hospitals and the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) in Mambukal Resort.
Diaz said the provincial government is currently determining the employment status of the 10 employees to establish the appropriate administrative action.
Job order and contract-of-service personnel who tested positive will be immediately terminated from service while permanent employees will be given a second chance through drug rehabilitation, in accordance with Civil Service Commission guidelines.
The random drug testing covered personnel assigned to the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Cadiz District Hospital, Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, Don Salvador Benedicto District Hospital, Gov. Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital, Hinoba-an District Hospital, and EEDD-Mambukal. | GPB
