DRUG TEST SURPRISES LAPU CH WORKERS

LAPU-LAPU City Hall employees were surprised when they were made to submit
to a drug test after their flag ceremony Monday morning inside the city
sports complex.

They were told to line up and wait for their turn. The male and female
employees were separated and were ushered into 15 cubicles to collect their
urine.

City Council board secretary Frank Limpangog only realized it was a drug
test when he was given a small vial for his urine.

Nora Ymbong, a legal officer, said it was unexpected.

At the start of the drug test, City Attorney Joseph Lim left the sports
complex to attend a court hearing across the street. But he returned
minutes later for the test.

Even City Health Officer Rodulfo Berame, who supervised the drug test, was
surprised. He and his medical technician staff were on standby that day and
were not told why.

Numbers

Berame said almost 1,000 employees underwent the drug test last Monday and
another 200 employees the next day.

He said some 50 employees remained untested but he took their names and
office assignment. They will be asked to submit themselves to the same test
soon.

Drug tests are often conducted unannounced. When such tests are scheduled,
people who take drugs can abstain from taking them three days or even a
week before the schedule, to flush the drugs out of their system.

Users either drink much water to induce frequent urination or indulge in
heavy physical activities to trigger sweating.

There was drizzle last Monday so the City Hall's program and flag ceremony
were held inside the sports complex.

"Niduyog ang panahon sa test (The weather conformed with the test)," Ymbong
said.

Since the start of his term, Mayor Arturo Radaza has been conducting
regular drug tests among his employees. And all the tests were unannounced,
as even his department heads did not expect the activity. OCP