Angeles City – Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. is seeking to enhance drug abuse elimination within the city hall after signing a drug-free workplace policy on January 10, 2023.
Lazatin signed Executive Order No. 3 Series of 2023 which allows the local government to conduct a surprise drug testing on all employees of the city government in accordance with the regulations imposed by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
“We will maintain a drug-free environment in the public service all throughout,” Lazatin said.
Pursuant to the order, those who will yield positive will undergo rehabilitation.
The policy is aligned with Lazatin’s flagship program to purge the entire city from illegal drugs by reducing its demand through promotion of a drug-free environment and rehabilitation.
A drug-free workplace committee in-charge of implementing the order is mandated to be created inclusively, the EO says.
According to the said EO, such must consist with the concerning department heads and social groups in the city hall and headed by Lazatin.
The Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ACADAC) is also mandated to strengthen their functions as regulators of the city’s drug abuse prevention as per the order.
It can be remembered that it is under the watch of Lazatin that the Balay Silangan reformation center was established and eventually expanded during his second term, which is supervised by Chief Adviser, IC Calaguas.
The Balay Silangan Reformation Center is a brainchild of former Director General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to reform illegal drug offender.
