On his first day in office June 30, Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya took a drug test to serve notice of his policy of a drug-free city government.
He obtained a negative result from the City Health Office.
Gasataya said undergoing a drug test is voluntary, but he will require his executive assistants and other co-terminus appointees to subject themselves to drug tests as well.
“This is a campaign of the government to ensure that we function well (as government officials) and it is part of the campaign against illegal drugs. We want to set an example. This is not mandatory, but as elected officials, it is our responsibility,” the first-term local chief executive said in a media interview.
Gasataya’s first executive order (EO) directed the establishment of the senior citizen center at the Government Center Annex Building.
“The City Government of Bacolod recognizes the valuable role of senior citizens in the development of society and aims to enhance their quality of life by ensuring their welfare and well-being through the provision of accessible programs and services,” he said.
Another EO directed all city government staff to return to their mother units or original plantilla assignments effective July 1. “It is imperative that all city government personnel are properly accounted for, in terms of their respective plantilla positions and designated offices.”
During his oathtaking and inauguration June 28, Gasataya said the first 100 days of his administration will be anchored on “heart”, which signifies “a commitment to serve with immediate, actionable solutions founded on empathy, integrity and compassion.”
HEART stands for health; education, economic, environmental sustainability; access to basic services, agriculture, animal welfare, and access to technology and housing; reliability of disaster risk reduction and management; and traffic management, transportation, and tourism. | PNA
