BACOLOD SCHOOLS HEAD FAVORS DRUG TESTS

Bacolod Schools Division Superintendent Milagros Gonzales said she
is in favor of the implementation of drug testing on students and
teachers as long as it will not entail any expense on their part.

The conduct of random drug testing on students is one of the
measures recommended by the Dangerous Drugs Board to President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Gonzales said they received an order on drug testing from the
Department of Education in January 2009.

"However, we should consider the rights of our students since there
might be those who do not want to be examined. But there is a big
question if you don't want to be examined, because if you are clean,
you have nothing to fear," she said.

Gonzales said the school administration should also be informed
before drug testing is initiated in the school. Usually, they do not
give schedules since the test is done at random, she said.

The DepEd had conducted drug testing in the schools in 2003 and
there was a committee conducting it, Gonzalez said. They had been
informed that drug testing will be conducted in some schools in
Bacolod City but they were not given the exact date and time, she said.

Gonzales said she sees no problem if the DepEd will conduct drug
testing as long as they are not made to spend because they do not
have funds for it. But usually, it is the national government that
provides the funds, she also said.

Asked if she is also in favor of drug testing for teachers, Gozales
said that before teachers are hired, they are made to undergo test
for drug use. They are also required to undergo neuro-psycho test,
which are requirements in the hiring process, she added.*CGS