Senate execs, personnel undergo random drug testing

DRUG TESTING. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Senator Gregorio Honasan II show the urinal cases for undergoing drug testing at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday (July 30, 2018). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA -- More than 300 officials and employees of the Senate on Monday were subjected to random drug testing, led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Gregorio Honasan II, who volunteered to undergo the procedure.

The random drug test is done annually at the Senate in compliance with Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular (CSC) No. 13, s. 2017 that requires all government agencies and offices, including constitutional bodies such as the Senate, to submit a regular report to the Dangerous Drugs Board on the conduct of drug tests and the number of personnel who tested positive, if any.

Sotto and Honasan subjected themselves to the drug testing after the weekly flag-raising ceremony at the Senate. Both senators tested negative for any illegal drug substance.

The departments of the Senate were randomly selected for the drug test to ensure its impartiality.

In the 2016 national elections, Sotto and Honasan voluntarily underwent drug testing during a leg of their campaign in Cebu City to set an example to the other candidates on the need to be transparent about their medical records.

It was also to stress the responsibility of public servants to maintain a drug-free lifestyle.

Candidates for public office are not required to undergo drug testing as affirmed by the Supreme Court in a 2008 ruling.

Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 provides that officers and employees of public offices shall undergo random drug testing though.

Any officer or employee found positive for use of dangerous drugs could face suspension or termination, subject to the pertinent provisions of the Civil Service Law.

Based on CSC Circular 13, the objective of the random drug testing is to ensure that government agencies remain drug-free.

The conduct of mandatory random drug testing also serves as a condition for the retention of public officials and employees in government service.

Sotto, a strong advocate against illegal drugs, said the drug testing on the Senate personnel is one of the most stringent types available.

He also assured that the results of the test would be held confidential as guaranteed by RA 9165. (Senate PR)

Laak town to open caves to tourists, spelunkers

The cave guide in Barangay Sto. Niño points the stalactite rock formation inside the Tagalog Cave during the Caving Festival of Laak, Compostela Valley. The three-day Caving Festival was held July 27-29. (Photo by Armando B. Fenequito Jr.)

LAAK, Compostela Valley -- With the success of its three-day Caving Festival held July 27-29 that was participated by senior high school students, the municipal government here will soon open the town’s caves to tourists and spelunkers.

Municipal Mayor Antonio Libuangan, in an interview on Sunday, said his town is ready to accommodate tourists who want to experience the wonders of their caves, which the town boasts as a tourist attraction.

The mayor said he plans to open the caving festival to the people from the entire Davao region so that everyone will be able to witness the town’s natural attraction.

“Nindot nga ma open ni sa tibuok region aron masaksihan sa tanan (It is good to open them to the whole region so that everyone will see our tourism attraction),” he said.

Libuangan said the town has more than a hundred caves, adding the need for them to be classified for conservation management and protection by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) so that tourists will experience all of them.

To complement these tourism initiatives, the town will also open access roads going to the cave sites for easy transportation, and a hotel to be managed by the municipal government

Provincial Tourism Office caving coordinator Prescila Decena said the municipal government initially targeted the graduating senior high school students because they can help in promoting the caves once they leave the town to study in the cities.

“Kung asa man sila, makakita sila sa TV nga well-known kaayo ilang cave dili kaayo sila ma ignorante. Dili kay mo ingon sila nga haaa naa diay mi ana nga cave diha sa Laak (Wherever they go, if they see their caves featured on TV, they will not be ignorant or surprised about them),” she said.

Decena said the town is positioning itself as the ‘Cave Capital’ in the region, and the campaign is supported by the Department of Tourism and the DENR.

Cecile Claros, barangay captain of Sto. Niño, said the activity is a stepping stone to the bigger market as soon as the town finally opens it.

Claros said the invitation for spelunking will help not just the barangay but also the Indigenous Peoples community and land owners here.

“Makatabang gyud ni sa mga cave guides og uban pang naglihok (This will help the cave guides and other functionaries who work for this),” she said.

Claros assured that environment protection will be a top priority, citing an ordinance passed by the barangay council for the protection of the caves.

She said part of the ordinance is the prohibition of cutting trees within the 500-radius of the cave areas and promoting waste segregation. (By Armando Fenequito, Jr/ PNA) Re-posted by Becky D. de Asis-DSOUTHERNTRAVELER)