MAYOR BENG Climaco has ordered a mandatory drug test for all local government employees, including members of the local Sanguniang Kabataan (SK), to ensure no civil workers are engaged or taking illegal substance.
Climaco instructed the Office of the Barangay Affairs and the City Health Office to immediately make available reagent testing kits and prepare the mass drug testing. The local government has been regularly conducting random drug test to its employees.
But the recent arrest of a 25-year old SK chairman here and his 18-year old accomplice, and a local government employee, in separate drug sting operations has irked Climaco, who is a staunch supporter of the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.
She ordered authorities to further intensify the campaign against illegal drugs hand-in-hand with the implementation of the local government’s rehabilitation programs.
It was unknown why the local SK federation has not detected that one of its chairmen was allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
Following the SK chairman’s arrest, Climaco met with Councilors Pinpin Pareja and Jihan Edding and other former SK officials and they demanded the local SK federation to conduct a mandatory drug test on all its members, including officers.
“They cannot be good examples for the youth if they are into drugs. We continue to advocate for drug-free communities and a drug-free Zamboanga City,” Climaco stressed, adding, the local government has allocated funds for rehabilitation of drug users and drug dependents.
Last January, the Zamboanga City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ZADAC), headed by Climaco, held a two-day workshop on “Intervention for Drug Personalities” in an effort to plan out strategies on how to assist and ensure a better life for drug personalities and towards the realization of an effective and efficient community-based rehabilitation after-care program.
The ZADAC also regularly conduct seminars and workshops to members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) to further strengthen the local government’s fight against the drug menace.
The local government also rewards barangays which have been declared “drug-free” as the local government continues its effort to rid Zamboanga of illegal drugs.
In the past, the mayor handed over P50, 000 to each barangay and recognized all those behind the success of clearing their areas of illegal drugs, and their hard work and efforts, saying BADACs are crucial in the success of the implementation of the anti-drug campaign.
In declaring a barangay free from illegal drug activities, a committee composed of members of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council together with the PDEA validate “the non-availability of drug supply in the area and the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pushers and users. (Zamboanga Post)
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