BACOLOD City — Bacolod City officials are throwing their support behind the city government’s drug-free workplace campaign, with mandatory employee drug testing set to begin later this month following Mayor Greg Gasataya’s call for greater transparency and accountability in public service.
Councilor Israel Salanga was among the first local officials to respond to the mayor’s appeal by voluntarily undergoing a drug test at a Department of Health (DOH)-accredited diagnostic center in Bacolod City on July 10.
Based on the laboratory results, which Salanga later posted on his social media account, he tested negative for both methamphetamine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Gasataya said that while elected officials are not legally required to undergo drug testing, he believes they should voluntarily submit themselves to the process to reinforce public trust and demonstrate transparency in government.
The mayor made the statement in line with Executive Order No. 54, which institutionalizes the Drug-Free Workplace Program in the Bacolod City Government.
Under the program, employees at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) will begin undergoing random drug testing by the end of July.
Gasataya said he has been taking regular drug tests since assuming office in 2025 and has consistently tested negative. As the city’s chief executive, he said it is his responsibility to lead by example and promote integrity in public service.
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo earlier said the drug testing program will be implemented in phases until the required number of personnel has been covered.
At least 50 percent of employees in every department will be randomly selected for testing, with the program covering regular, plantilla, and contract-of-service personnel.
The initiative forms part of the city government’s continuing efforts to maintain a drug-free workplace and promote professionalism, accountability, and public confidence in the local bureaucracy./PN
