THE City Government of Bacolod is only waiting for the approval of an ordinance to require all the city employees, including officials, to undergo mandatory drug testing, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari said Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

Maghari said Councilor Psyche Marie Sy, chairperson of the City Council committee on fire, social defense, and natural disasters, already authored the drug-free workplace ordinance.

"Once it will be approved by the council, we have the power to mandate to require all the city employees and officials to undergo mandatory drug testing," he said.

He added that there will appropriate sanctions for those who will be tested positive for illegal drugs.

Last week, Police Station 2 recovered a list of individuals who were allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Of the 22 names, two of them are allegedly job order employees at the Bacolod City Government Center.

In 2022, a job order employee and a village councilman were also arrested in separate drug bust operations in Bacolod City.

The top official of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Bacolod City also earlier expressed support for the proposal to require all barangay officials to undergo mandatory drug testing.

Ma. Joy Marideth Madayag, head of DILG-Bacolod, said barangay officials should serve as an example to their constituents and intensify their campaign against illegal drugs within their barangays.

"They should be a role model to their constituents. We have our Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) so they should be responsible for their actions," she said.