DRUG TESTS ON MANILA GOV'T OFFICIALS, WORKERS URGED

TWO Manila councilors have urged Mayor Lito Atienza to order all city
government officials and employees as well as barangay officials to
undergo drug tests.

Councilors Nelissa Beltran and her brother Natalio Beltran III said in
their resolution that the city government should require its officials
and personnel to undergo drug testing.

The city council's committee on health, chaired by Councilor Irma
Alfonso-Juson, agreed, saying that city and barangay officials and
personnel who are not hooked on illegal drugs "would not only ensure
their health but also improve their civil service performance."

But the committee said the Office of the Mayor has no authority to
issue such an order because the proposal concerns policy, which is the
realm of the city council as the local legislative department.

The committee recommended that the Beltrans come up instead with a
proposed ordinance granting the mayor the authority to direct local
employees to take drug tests.