USLS PARENTS-TEACHERS COUNCIL PUSHING DRUG-TESTING FOR STUDENTS?

Proposal Needs LA Salle Community's Concurrence

The proposal of the president of the Parents-Teachers Council of the
University of St. La Salle to have USLS students undergo drug test has
received the support of the Bacolod Police Office.

Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras, Bacolod Police director, yesterday said
it is a welcome development that the USLS is "polishing its own backyard."

A source from the USLS Student Personnel Service, told the DAILY STAR
that the drug test for La Salle students was proposed by Ingrid
Resuma-Piccio, 2004-2005 president of the USLS PTC, during their
induction Tuesday night at the Balay Kalinungan.

It was just a proposal. The PTC still has to pass a resolution subject
to approval by the La Salle community, the same source added.

Ponteras said his office is willing to supervise the drug testing of
students if it pushes through. Other schools should also implement the
same measure to "clean" its school from drugs, he added.

The police chief also said the drug testing in schools should be
supported by the community, and noted that reports from the Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency showed that there are now 3.4 million
Filipinos addicted to drugs.

He said the figure is alarming because 60 percent of the total number
of drug users in the country belongs to the youth group at ages 14 and
above.

Ponteras also said he will continue the conduct of random drug testing
among city policemen, 60 percent of whom have already been covered
About 80 percent of the Provincial Police Office personnel also
underwent similar tests under Ponteras.

Two Bacolod policemen had earlier been found positive for shabu use,
and this resulted in their dismissal from the service.