THE Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac) bared that a total of 979 companies underwent training for a drug-free workplace in compliance to the city ordinance and 62 of which also conducted drug test programs.
Cadac operations head Ronaldo Rivera said Wednesday, October 9, during the AFP-PNP press briefing that of 979 companies, there were 4,557 employees expected to undergo drug testing and to be provided with preventive education as part of their policy.
“Sa assessment kung tanggalon ninyo ang empleyado sa company ang city ang mag-provide ug best interventions para sa ilaha para dili mag cause ug risk sa community (If the company will kick out their employees, they must refer them to the city government so that they can be assisted and will not be a burden in the community),” Rivera said.
In a previous report, the City Ordinance 0506-13 requires all companies employing more than 10 persons to have an anti-drug abuse program or a drug-free workplace policy. They must have a program to educate their employees, their families, and the communities on the ill-effects of illegal drugs, how to treat drug addiction and how to recover from or manage it.
It is part of the requirements in the renewal of business permits starting 2020.
Rivera added that they have three different batches in conducting the drug test. The first batch focuses on service providers then the next batch will be on services and products and the last batch would be the products.
Rivera said, “Pag karun, nag focus sa me sa services provider since ang panahon kay diotay na ug pahumanay na pod and 2019 (We are currently focusing on the service providers since the time is short and 2019 is also over). The possible number of employees on the target on the first batch is 8,000.”
The official added that they have been conducting surprise drug testing to all companies in the city.
They are still encouraging other companies to reach out to them for training, they will not be granted with permits.
Companies are required to form their assessment team composed of the employer, the human resource manager, occupational health officer and the representative of the employee association.
“This assessment team will be the one who will refer them if there are employees who are found positive and they will also the ones who will craft the policy for the company regarding what they will do to employees who are positive,” Rivera said. (Grace D. Daypan, UM intern/With JCR)