The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has replicated an advocacy program promoting a drug-free workplace in business establishments and subdivisions in Muntinlupa City.
Director General Aaron Aquino piloted the program on Feb. 21 in Quezon City, followed by Pasig City last March 26, engaging the management of hotels, restaurants, bars, condominiums, subdivisions, warehouses and security agencies to implement their own drug-free workplace program.
“One of the priorities of the program is to reintroduce and compel business owners to conform with the requirements of Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation 8 Series of 2003 which mandates all private establishments employing 10 or more workers to adopt company policies against illegal drug use, including education of employees on the ill-effects of dangerous drugs, and conduct random drug tests for all their personnel,” he said.
The anti-drug advocacy program also instilled awareness on the modus operandi used by drug syndicates, such as converting high-end subdivisions, hotels, and condominiums into drug dens, distribution hubs, chemical warehouses, and clandestine drug laboratories.
“We need to educate owners of business establishments to prevent illegal drug activities to thrive in their facilities. We also urge lessors of warehouses, condominiums, and houses to regularly inspect their properties to prevent their establishments from being used as drug laboratories and warehouses,” the PDEA chief said.
During the activity held at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Muntinlupa City, Aquino, along with Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, urged owners of business establishments to implement a drug-free workplace policy pursuant to the Department of Labor and Employment Order No. 53-03, or the Guidelines for the implementation of a Drug-Free Workplace Policies and Programs for the Private Sector.
Last March 19, a storage facility of illegal drugs was dismantled in Ayala Alabang Subdivision led to the seizure of 82.2898 kilos of shabu worth P836.4 million.
On the same day, 45 kilos of shabu worth P306 million was confiscated in a buy-bust operation in Alabang Town Center that also led to the arrest of Chinese nationals and one Filipino were arrested in both operations.
Last Oct. 2, 2018, a manufacturing facility of Kush, or commonly known as Cannabis Indica, was dismantled inside a house in Ayala Alabang Village, resulting in the seizure of more or less six kilos of the illegal hemp worth P7.2 million, various drug paraphernalia and the arrest of two maintainers.