Wednesday, July 20, 2016
By
ERWIN P. NICAVERA
THE business sector is also taking seriously the new administration’s massive campaign against illegal drugs by initiating measures in the workplace, a local business leader said.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), a fastcraft vessel operator, yesterday said he has already started incorporating in their company’s policy some anti-illegal drug cleansing steps.
Carbon said their employees have been required to submit latest barangay clearance, indicating that they are not included in the list of drug dependent residents in their respective areas.
Workers were also oriented on the current anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government to instill in their minds that this is also a serious matter for the private sector, Carbon added.
“Aside from showing cooperation to the new administration, we are doing our part to help solve serious drug problems in the country as it is also affecting the business industry,” he pointed out.
Carbon, also the regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), further said that since the conduct of drug test is somehow expensive, companies might subsidize the testing fee.
“I will call for a board meeting to discuss these measures and craft more possible means of cleansing the workforce of every business establishment,“ Carbon said, adding that he will encourage them to adopt the same initial steps.
Police officials in the region had earlier called on businessmen to also implement in their own level some measures against illegal drugs.
Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa, regional director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island, said that business sector as one of the stakeholder-members of the community, can also do so much in the fight against illegal drugs.
Moreover, Carbon agreed to the police’s statement that employees in the transportation sector, including port workers, are highly vulnerable to illegal drug use.
They could even serve as drug couriers and could even influence fellow workers, he said.
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 20, 2016.
