Rey Anthony H.
Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, April
30 (PIA) -- Realizing the immensity of the drug abuse problem in Bohol, the
Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) has sought the help of everyone here
to make work-places in Bohol practically drug free.
In the most recent
Holy Name University (HNU) opinion survey called Bohol Polls held
from March to April this year, 29% of the 400 respondents admitted that
illegal drugs is a "very serious" problem in Bohol.
The survey had
30% of respondents saying illegal drugs is "somewhat serious" and
another 29% saying it is a serious problem.
With this, the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that the government has made it
a policy to ensure that workers are in an occupation safety and healthy
environment that is drug free, alcohol free, HIV and AIDS free, Hepa B free,
smoke free, TB free as well as sexual harassment free environment.
As long as the
management and the employees agree on the DOLE policy of occupational Safety
and Health in the workplace, then random drug testing is legal and
constitutional, says German Guidaben, local DOLE officer in Charge at the
Kapihan sa PIA.
Former Bohol Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) president Marietta Gasatan assured that once an
employee is positively found out to have been a drug user, he or she could be
terminated without compromising labor laws.
Guidaben also said the
management may give the employee a chance at a second opinion but if it too
turns out positive, then the employee could be sent for rehabilitation or
dismissed.
It may be recalled
that in its February meeting, PPOC, through a motion by Civil Society
Organization representative Emilia Roslinda, resolved to promote drug-free
Boholano workplaces through implementing random drug testing among its
employees.
DOLE, taking the cue
from a Dangerous Drugs Board promulgation in resolution 06-03 dated August
20113, prescribed the guidelines in implementing a drug-free workplace
program.
This same promulgation
includes the manner in which random drug tests are implemented for officials
end employees in the workplace.
Apart from the DOLE,
the Civil Service Commission promulgated CSC resolution 101359 in June 201,
which adopts the guidelines from a drug free working environment in
government.
In the recent meeting
April 29, 2015 at the People's Mansion Conference Hall,
PPOC urged the public and private sector to conduct random drug
testing to local workers to ensure drug free workplaces.
In Resolution no. 7,
series of 2015, Marietta Gasatan who now manages a resort in Panglao, said the
move should help establishments maintain drug-free workplaces according to
government mandates.
Illegal drugs abuse is
a menace to the society which could affect everyone, including the workers in
the government and the private sector since it would cause physical, mental and
social dysfunction, the PPOC members averred. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)