DILG adopts ‘one-strike policy’ for officials, employees positive for illegal drugs

August 23, 2018

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has adopted a “one-strike policy” for officials and employees found positive in using illegal drugs

“The DILG seriously maintains a safe and drug-free workplace and any DILG official or employee who yields positive drug test results shall be charged with grave misconduct and be sanctioned with dismissal from service on the first offense,” DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año said in a press statement Thursday.

Covered in the policy are all DILG local government sector officials and employees including personnel under job order and contract of service status, who shall undergo drug testing on various periods.

Año announced the implementation of DILG’s ‘one-strike policy’ through Circular 2018-22 pursuant to Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Civil Service Commission  Memorandum Circular No. 13, s. of 2017, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulations No. 2 s. of 2017.

Under the policy, drug testing shall remain a requirement for initial entry to government service for appointive DILG officials and employees. “Any applicant found positive for drug use shall be denied entry to government service,” the DILG chief said.

On the other hand, for DILG officials and employees who are in the service, they need to undergo periodic mandatory or random drug testing every two years to stay in government service.

If an official or employee tests positive for dangerous drugs following a confirmatory test, the head of the office will be notified who shall inform the personnel of the result.

“While we reiterate the ‘one-strike policy on the use of illegal drugs,’ we observe due process. A DILG official or employee found positive of drug use will be given 15 days from receipt of a notice to challenge the result of the confirmatory test,”said Año. If the personnel concerned failed to challenge the confirmatory test within a prescribed period, the DILG shall then take appropriate actions.

A positive drug test result shall be attached to the 201 file of the concerned DILG official or employee in a strictly confidential manner as provided by RA 9165.

In accordance with Section 50 (A) (3), Rule 10 of the 2017 Rules of Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and Section 2 of DDB Board Regulation 2, series of 2017, DILG officials and employees who yield positive drug test result shall be charged with grave misconduct and shall be imposed with the penalty of dismissal from service for the first offense. DMS