The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Davao regional office has recognized the efforts of the City Government of Davao in combatting illegal drug by mandating establishments employing 10 persons and more to create a drug-free workplace program.
Mandating all establishments to create a drug-free workplace is covered by a city ordinance passed by the City Council in 2013. City Ordinance No. 0506-13 or the Mandatory Drug Testing in business establishments is a requisite for the renewal of business permits starting 2020. Drug testing for employees is voluntary.
âThis is a big help for us since those who will purchase illegal drugs are those who have money and they are the ones who work,â said Lawyer Ben Joseph Tesiorna, the Assistant Regional Director of PDEA-11.
This as PDEA awarded the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) for its relentless efforts to have a drug-free Davao City. The giving of the award is in line with the observance of the International Day of Dangerous Drugs and Illicit Trafficking.
Tesiorna said the programs implemented by the City Government through CADAC are of big help to PDEA.
CADAC action officer Michael Denton Aportadera said all the efforts of the city government against illegal drugs were being extended to cover the 182 barangays in the city. Programs are also aimed at helping drug reformists create a new life.
âFor now we have actively enrolled more than 4,000 drug surrenderers and we are now implementing the drug-free workplaceâŚhopefully all employees and establishments will be drug-free because of this,â Aportadera said.
âOur vision is that Davao City and hopefully the entire country will be drug-free in a few yearsâ time,â he added. CIO
