ANGELES CITY — The city government of Angeles is boosting its fight against illegal drugs, especially among offices in the City Hall.
With this, a total of 291 employees of the Environmental Management System (EMS) underwent surprise drug tests, as ordered by Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr.
“We aim for a drug-free workplace, and by assuring this, we will continue to conduct anti-drug efforts to reduce if not eliminate the demand for illegal drugs,” he said.
Of the 291 employees, 45 are permanent; 36 casual; and 210 Contract of Service (COS).
Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas said all employees who are scheduled for their surprise drug testing should comply.
For his part, Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council Head Richard Alan Saul said employees who will be tested positive will undergo rehabilitation immediately.
To recall, a total of 176 employees composed of 144 traffic enforcers and staff from the Angeles City Traffic Development Office and 32 from the Public Transportation and Regulatory Office underwent their surprise drug testing last January 2023.
It was also in January 2023 when Lazatin signed Executive Order (EO) No. 3 Series of 2023 which mandates the strict implementation of drug-free workplace policy among all departments and offices of the city government.
Part of the EO is the conduct of random and mandatory authorized drug testing for all employees of the city government regardless of employment status, in accordance with the regulations imposed by the Dangerous Drugs Board and the Civil Service Commission.