The Provincial Government of Bohol has
issued a purchase request for 16,331 drug
testing kits amid rampant proliferation of
illegal drugs in the province which even
involves government employees.
The kits will be used to support the operations
of the Center for Drug Education and
Counseling (CeDEC), according to a
purchase order document obtained by The
Bohol Tribune.
As this develops, Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado
has not issued a public statement on the
arrest of a Capitol employee who two weeks
ago was arrested in Dauis for alleged
possession of illegal drugs.
Frederick Pamatong Madriñan, a 51-year-old
licensed veterinarian and employee at the
Provincial Veterinarian Office, was arrested
during a buy-bust operation conducted by the
Dauis Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Following the arrest, Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr.
conducted surprise, random drug testing
among DILG staff and its attached agencies
on June 2, 2023, as part of the Buhay
Ingatan, Droga’y Aiwan (BIDA) Program in the
Department.
Meanwhile, the Bohol drug test kits are
expected to cost Php1,077,846.00. They will
be delivered within seven days of the
issuance of a notice to proceed. The kits must
have an expiration date of at least two years
from the delivery date.
The purchase request was approved by
Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado. The
cash for the purchase has been made
available by Provincial Treasurer Eustaquio A.
Socorin.
Provincial Health Officer I Cesar Tomas M.
Lopez requested the purchase of the kits.
Capitol said that the kits will be used to screen
government workers.
The drug testing kits will help us to identify
and address the problem of drug abuse in our
province, according to the Capitol in a report.
“We will use the results of the tests to provide
counseling and treatment to those who need
it.”
The CeDEC is a unit of the Provincial Health
Office that provides drug education and
counseling services. The center was
established in 2017 to address the growing
problem of drug abuse in Bohol.
The purchase of the drug testing kits is a
major step forward in the fight against drug
abuse in Bohol. The kits will help the CeDEC
to identify and provide services to those who
need them.