The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Tuesday declared 21 major airports under its supervision as drug-free facilities.
This, after 2,635 CAAP employees from these airports tested negative for methamphetamine hydrochloride and marijuana drug use.
The random drug tests, according to Media Communications Office chief and CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio, is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign nationwide and as part of the Transportation department’s bid for a drug-free government workplace.
Apolonio said CAAP’s Office of the Flight Surgeon and Aviation Medicine conducted the random drug testing from February to September this year where 2,635 employees from 21 airports took part out of the 6,056 employees nationwide.
“The OFSAM personnel went around the CAAP-operated airports from Luzon to Mindanao in order to ensure that our airports are safe and drug-free,” he added.
The drug tests are done year-round in accordance to Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as well as the Civil Service Commission’s memorandum circular 13, calling for a drug-free workplace, and the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulation on Psychoactive Testing and Reporting that requires drug testing on airport personnel.
Aside from testing CAAP personnel, several on-duty aircrew members from Philippine Airlines, PAL Express, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia in the 21 airports also participated in the drug testing. All aircrew members tested negative to prohibited drugs as well.
The random drug tests are also in accordance to CAAP’s mission of ensuring a safe, secure, and green Philippine skies.
The aviation regulator manages 81 airports nationwide while five others are controlled by other airport authorities—the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Subic Bay International Airport, Clark International Airport, Cebu-Mactan International Airport, and Lal-lo International Airport (Cagayan North International Airport).
In November 2016, CAAP ordered the relief of 30 employees after they were tested positive for drug use following a series of urine testing on workers at 81 airports nationwide.
As the Philippines’ aviation safety oversight mechanism, CAAP is responsible for providing safe and efficient air transport and regulatory services in the country.
Stationed at the Old MIA Road in Pasay City and in 12 area centers around the Philippines, CAAP employs approximately 6000 employees.”‹