Drug Testing in Cebu City Hall Resumes

The random drug testing for Cebu City Hall employees resumed Monday after it was temporarily discontinued for several weeks.

Over 300 employees under the General Services Office (GSO) participated at the resumption of the drug testing conducted by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap).

Cosap chief Garry Lao said they halted the drug testing for several weeks in order to achieve that so-called “element of surprise.”

Other than that, Lao said City Hall employees who have been using drugs might also be alarmed and will stop taking methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.” If a drug user abruptly stops his vice, it would be hard for them to get an accurate result, Lao added.

The drug testing for GSO employees has been requested by its chief Ronald Malacora and was approved by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Lao said Cosap has also suspended the drug testing for teachers and non-teaching personnel of public schools in Cebu City so that they can assess the results.

Cosap has conducted random drug tests in 12 public elementary and high schools in the city from Sept.ember 11 to 14. ( with reports from Michelle Bugtai/PNA)