Manila Bulletin
DILG will impose one strike policy against its officials yielding positive for illegal drugs
DILG will impose one strike policy against its officials yielding positive for illegal drugs
DILG will impose one strike policy against its officials yielding positive for illegal drugs
By Roel Tibay
Published Aug 23, 2018 06:32 pm
By Chito Chavez
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned its personnel that it will strictly impose the one strike policy against its officials and employees yielding positive illegal drug results or involvement in any unlawful drug transactions.
DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) “Eduardo M. Año said the DILG seriously maintains a safe and drug-free workplace and any DILG official or employee who yields positive drug test results shall be charged with grave misconduct and be sanctioned with dismissal from service on the first offense.
DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año
(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez / MANILA BULLETIN) Covered in the policy are all DILG local government sector officials and employees including personnel under job order and contract of service status, who shall undergo drug testing on various periods. Año announced the implementation of DILG’s ‘one-strike policy’ through Circular 2018-22 pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 13, s. of 2017, and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulations No. 2 s. of 2017. Under the policy, drug testing shall remain a requirement for initial entry to government service for appointive DILG officials and employees. “Any applicant found positive for drug use shall be denied entry to government service,” the DILG chief said. DILG officials and employees who are already in the service need to undergo periodic mandatory and/or random drug testing every two years as a condition for retention in government service. In the event that an official or employee tests positive for dangerous drugs following a confirmatory test, the head of the office will be notified who shall then inform the concerned personnel of the result. “While we reiterate the ‘one-strike policy on the use of illegal drugs,’ we observe due process. A DILG official or employee found positive of drug use will be given 15 days from receipt of a notice to challenge the result of the confirmatory test,” said Año. If the personnel concerned failed to challenge the confirmatory test within a prescribed period, the DILG shall then take appropriate actions. A positive drug test result shall be attached to the 201 file of the concerned DILG official or employee in a strictly confidential manner as provided by RA 9165. In accordance with Section 50 (A) (3), Rule 10 of the 2017 Rules of Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and Section 2 of DDB Board Regulation 2, series of 2017, DILG officials and employees who yield positive drug test result shall be charged with grave misconduct and shall be imposed with the penalty of dismissal from service for the first offense. Año asserted the DILG and all other department and government agencies should at all time advocate the constitutional policy that “Public office is a public trust. ‘’Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency,” he added.
DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez / MANILA BULLETIN) Covered in the policy are all DILG local government sector officials and employees including personnel under job order and contract of service status, who shall undergo drug testing on various periods. Año announced the implementation of DILG’s ‘one-strike policy’ through Circular 2018-22 pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 13, s. of 2017, and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulations No. 2 s. of 2017. Under the policy, drug testing shall remain a requirement for initial entry to government service for appointive DILG officials and employees. “Any applicant found positive for drug use shall be denied entry to government service,” the DILG chief said. DILG officials and employees who are already in the service need to undergo periodic mandatory and/or random drug testing every two years as a condition for retention in government service. In the event that an official or employee tests positive for dangerous drugs following a confirmatory test, the head of the office will be notified who shall then inform the concerned personnel of the result. “While we reiterate the ‘one-strike policy on the use of illegal drugs,’ we observe due process. A DILG official or employee found positive of drug use will be given 15 days from receipt of a notice to challenge the result of the confirmatory test,” said Año. If the personnel concerned failed to challenge the confirmatory test within a prescribed period, the DILG shall then take appropriate actions. A positive drug test result shall be attached to the 201 file of the concerned DILG official or employee in a strictly confidential manner as provided by RA 9165. In accordance with Section 50 (A) (3), Rule 10 of the 2017 Rules of Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and Section 2 of DDB Board Regulation 2, series of 2017, DILG officials and employees who yield positive drug test result shall be charged with grave misconduct and shall be imposed with the penalty of dismissal from service for the first offense. Año asserted the DILG and all other department and government agencies should at all time advocate the constitutional policy that “Public office is a public trust. ‘’Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency,” he added.