TOM'S ABSURD PROPOSAL

MAYOR Tomas Osmena had shocked three teenage students when he again
introduced his proposal to let the students taste a prohibited drug as
a way to curb the growing drug problem in schools. The three, who were
doing a class project, interviewed the mayor in the latter's office
recently.

In September 2002 while trying to expound his idea of solving the drug
problems in schools, he was quoted as saying that "if permitted,
students from both private and government high schools might be asked
to light and taste marijuana sticks and pass them around."

This will "remove the mystery of drugs and the curiosity of the
youth," Osmena had said.

However, this never took off. According to councilor Sylvan Jakosalem,
chairperson of the committee on dangerous drugs, presenting ex-drug
addicts and narrating their testimonies is more effective.

On Wednesday, the mayor clarified that he has no intention of letting
students go through the experience of letting them sniff marijuana as
what the three high school students understood. He was aware that his
previous proposal was met with stiff opposition by education officials
and even by his own close supporters.

Senior high school student Ruth Gladyson Albo, 16, had gasped: "We
were shocked. We can't imagine what would happen."

But Osmena said he would still have wanted to have a marijuana stick
lighted to show to students how it looks and smells aside from the
usual lectures on its ill effects.

Of course, this proposal will continue to be a subject of debate among
education officials, parents, students and other sectors.

Still, the mayor said he was glad that the issue has been prominently
brought out into the open so he will know how the public generally
receives his ideas.

We are relieved that the young students will not have to undergo the
"drug-tasting" experience of a prohibited drug. We are sure there are
other creative means with which to put the message across that illegal
drugs are definitely undesirable.

The pervasive drug problem, which has already reached the upland
barangays and penetrated the towns, is a complex problem that requires
an integrated solution and the commitment of authorities and the public.

According to the Dangerous Drugs Board, some 5.4 million Filipinos are
hooked on dangerous drugs, from marijuana to shabu to ecstasy. It said
the future leaders of this country are killing themselves softly and
are destroying their physical, mental and psychological health. A good
number of these users are in the campus posing a threat to classmates,
teachers and staff, the study said.

A law introduced by Representative Antonio V. Cuenco is explicit about
the roles of schools, parents and students in the fight against drug
menace in campuses. Sec. 43 of Republic Act 9165 mandates the
integration of instruction on drug use in the school curricula, and
deans, teachers and other school authorities are deemed persons in
authority empowered to arrest and apprehend drug users and other
violators of the drug law. The law also encourages parents to allow
their children to undergo drug testing and student leaders are called
upon to declare war against drugs.

That experience of the students with the mayor rather left the former
hanging as it would seem to suggest that the proposal of the hizzoner
was more a rhetoric than something that would guide the students in
the right direction.