By Antonio Colina DAVAO CITY – The city government has warned about 10,000 service-oriented companies their business permits will not be renewed starting 2020 if they fail to submit a three-year Drug Abuse Prevention Plan. (Credits: Google Maps | Manila Bulletin) Donaldo Rivera, technical adviser for City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), told ISpeak Media Forum on Thursday the city government will be requiring such firms to submit a plan in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Ordinance, passed in 2013. He said the ordinance took effect only in November 2018, following the approval of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), or two years and four months into the drug war waged by the Duterte administration. Rivera said it took years to complete the IRR to make sure it is “efficient and flawless.” The ordinance requires “random drug testing in all establishments in Davao City employing 10 or more employees.” The firms must also form an assessment team, made up of owner of the company, occupational health officer, human resource, and representative of employees association. The team will enforce the three-year plan. Rivera said one of the team’s tasks is to educate the workers on the effects of illegal drug use and possible treatment for drug addiction. He urged the companies to make their policies more “compassionate” to workers who will test positive for drug use, as he explained that “addiction is a brain disease.” The ordinance will eventually be expanded to cover establishments in other industries such as service and product-oriented firms. Service-oriented establishments are those that offer and provide services for public utilities and facilities, transportation services, security services, and maintenance services, lodging and restaurant services, educational and social services, business services, and personal services.