The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Almeria has made history by becoming the first municipality in Biliran Province to be declared a Drug-Free Workplace. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officially recognized the LGU’s drug-free status during a joint meeting of the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC), Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC), and other relevant agencies on November 26, 2024.

All LGU employees underwent random drug testing conducted by the Rural Health Unit (RHU) Almeria on November 05, 2024, and all tested negative. Additionally, employees from national agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine National Police (PNP) were also included in the testing and yielded negative results.

This significant achievement solidifies Almeria’s commitment to a drug-free community and strengthens its partnership with national agencies in providing quality public service.