The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera is recommending the adoption of the Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 12.
During the 1st Quarter Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) Advocacy Cluster meeting in March 28, Rosel Sarmiento of the PDEA-CAR said under the program, local government units will be subjected to an assessment process based on criteria, monitoring, and evaluation by a committee.
A drug-free workplace seal will be awarded to an LGU that complied with the parameters set by the committee.
“Itong program na ito ay para sa LGUs na makaka-receive ng award dahil sa board regulation, wala pong mandate na magbigay ang PDEA or DDB (Dangerous Drugs Board) ng drug-free workplace certificate. Isa ito sa lagi nating hinahanap,” Sarmiento said.
Anti-Drug Abuse Council Technical Assistant Jean Caoili-Kimbis said the DILG-CAR has already discussed the possible replication of the DFWP.
“For collaborations, meron naman kaming contact ng focal person sa Region 12. Puwede tayong makipag-coordinate sa kanila at maaari rin natin silang imbitahan upang mapag-usapan,” Kimbis said.
It was agreed in the meeting that the matter will be elevated to the regional Inter-Agency Committee on Illegal Drugs for further discussion.
The PDEA-CAR and its partners continue to campaign for the DFWP.
In 2018, the DDB issued Board Regulation 13 which aims to promote the establishment and institutionalization of drug-free workplace policies in all government agencies and ensure all public officers, both elective and appointive, remain drug-free through the conduct of authorized drug testing pursuant to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022. – Debbie E. Gasingan
