THOSE who were found positive of illegal drug use during a series of surprise tests conducted at the Cebu South Bus Terminal recently will have a chance to work again if they enrol in the We Care program of the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse and Prevention (Cosap).
However, they will have to be suspended from their work for three months.
Joey Herrera, manager of the Cebu South Bus Terminal, said there were three workers found positive of illegal drug use on the first day of drug testing and on the second day, six were found positive, while nine have admitted that they are drug users.
Herrera said that those found positive were a driver, a controller, and a checker while the rest were vendors and dispatchers.
Proof
Herrera said that those who confessed that they are drug users will also enroll in the program, but they will still be given a chance to work at the South Bus Terminal if they will show proof that they are attending the program.
“Makabalik sila after three months kay three months man na ang program (They can have their jobs back after the three-month program),” Herrera said.
Herrera said that he wrote the bus companies whose employees are involved in drugs to ask that they be suspended, while waiting for the confirmatory result.
Herrera said that they had sought the consent of the bus operators prior to the drug testing.
Dismiss
It was agreed that if there are drivers, dispatchers or conductors who are found positive, they should be dismissed from their posts.
If the operator will insist not to fire these workers, Herrera said they will not allow them to enter the terminal because the Cebu Provincial Government, which operates the facility, imposes a drug-free working place.
As to the nine vendors and dispatchers, who earlier admitted that they are users, they were advised to enroll in the program, Herrera said.
They can still continue their business inside the terminal, as long as they are consistent in attending the program.
To ensure that they have not returned to their old ways, a series of surprise drug tests will be conducted during the program.
If they are still found to be using drugs, they will be dropped from the program, he added. Camille Pateres, USJ-R intern