A TOTAL of 18 tanods and garbage loaders of Barangay Bulacao underwent a surprise drug test administered by the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) yesterday.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, who is the chairperson of public order and safety committee in the City Council, said that the drug test aims to prove that these barangay tanods and garbage loaders are not into using drugs.
Tumulak said he will inform Mayor Tomas Osmeña of the result of the test. This, despite the order of the mayor to stop the giving of cash allowance to tanods and loaders effective Feb. 1 due to budget constraint.
Bulacao Barangay Captain Rodrigo Jabellana said that 21 tanods were supposed to undergo the surprise drug test yesterday, but only 18 of them were able to participate because the two were on-duty, while the other one got sick.
All of the seven garbage loaders of the barangay were present.
Jabellana said that they requested the drug test to make sure that all those who are working in the barangay are not drug users.
Tumulak, who supervised the drug test, yesterday said that the result is expected to be out today.
As to the cancellation of the honorarium for tanods and loaders from the City, Jabellana said that the move has affected the morale of the workers.
“They’re used to receiving something from the City although it’s not that big enough but it’s very helpful to them and to their families. But we will not lose hope that the mayor will change his decision. We will just show our best efforts in giving service to our residents,” he said.