Quezon City Vice Mayor Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte spearheaded the compliance of the legislative department to a drug free workplace through the surprise mandatory drug testing of all officials and employees, including elected Councilors.

This move is pursuant to Ordinance No. SP-2460, S-2015, otherwise known as the “Quezon City Drug Free Workplace Ordinance of 2015”and in response to the revitalized nationwide campaign against prohibited drugs launched by the current administration.

“Kung ang lahat ng empleyado ng Lungsod Quezon ay kailangan magpa-drug test, kaming mga halal na opisyal ay dapat din sumunod dito bilang pagsuporta sa adbokasiya ng ating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na makamit ang mithiing maging drug free ang ating bansa,” Vice Mayor Belmonte posted in her social media account.

The employees of the Office of the Vice Mayor underwent drug testing on June 28 and 29, 2016 followed by other Council employees on July 15 to 21, 2016.

All members of the City Council were subjected to drug testing, with majority taking the test on August 1, 2016 while two of them were tested in the succeeding days.

First to be released are test results from the employees of the Office of the Vice Mayor which yielded negative results-- making it a 100% drug-free workplace.

The drug testing was facilitated by the Department of Health’s National Reference Laboratory at East Avenue Medical Center, as well as private diagnostic laboratories in Quezon City.

All employees submitted urine specimens under the close watch of duly accredited laboratory personnel to prevent tampering.