• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Joedith Gallego yesterday said the number of Silay City government employees that tested positive for illegal drug use has risen to 39.
Of the 39 employees that tested positive, two are regular employees who have voluntarily resigned from their respective jobs, while 37 others were either job order and contract of service workers, said Gallego.
On the contrary, Gallego also reported yesterday that he and other city officials have yielded negative drug test results.
The mayor disclosed that 40 percent of the entire Silay City government work force had been subjected to drug testing, as of this time.
Gallego, however, said that some of those that tested positive have contested the results, as they presented another set of test results, showing that they are negative for the use of illegal substances.
Gallego said the contested results of four City employees will be subjected to another round of confirmatory testing. On the other hand, those who accepted the positive results of their drug testing were dismissed from their jobs, he added.
Majority of the Silay City government employees that tested positive for use of illegal substances are assigned at the Civil Security office, while others are working as traffic enforcers, and at the City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office, according to Gallego.
He vowed to subject all Silay City government employees to drug testing, to be fair to all.
On the other hand, 39 of the 53 personnel of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office and Public Order and Safety Office of the Bacolod City government, who also tested positive for the use of illegal drugs have surfaced to avail of the drug rehabilitation program of the Bacolod City Anti-Drug Abuse Council.*
