30 Dumaguete City government workers fired after positive result in drug use test

AT LEAST 30 workers of Dumaguete City’s local government unit (LGU), mostly under casual and job order contracts, were terminated after testing positive for illegal drug use. Deputy City Administrator and Human Resource Manager Dinno T. Depositario told The Freeman that the regular employees who also tested positive were subjected to further investigation as part of due process before being fired. Mr. Depositario said the city government will be setting up a “wellness program,” which the fired employees can voluntarily join. “We are not forcing them to enroll in the program. However, if they want their jobs back, they need to go through it… we are giving them another chance,” he said. — The Freeman