DRUG TEST FOR COLLEGE, HS STUDENTS BEGINS TODAY

Millions of students in public and private high schools and colleges
all over the country will undergo random drug-testing starting today
in an effort to address the problem of drug abuse by the young people,
the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) said yesterday.

Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus and CHED chairman Bro. Rolando
Dizon, FSC, said they are ready for the random drug test which will be
conducted on a regular basis starting today.

Also covered by the test are vocational schools.

De Jesus stated in a memorandum that the student sector is one of six
groups required under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drug Act
of 2002 to undergo drug testing.

The other five groups are individuals who secure driver's licenses and
firearms licenses from from the Philippine National Police, candidates
for national or local elections, inmates serving imprisonment of six
years and longer and government and private sector employes.

"Drug counselors will be designated to provide guidance and counseling
services to students found to be drug users. DepEd is also ensuring
confidentiality of the test results," De Jesus stated in DepEd Order
No. 63, series of 2003.

The education chief said the drug test is to be conducted in
cooperation with CHED, Technical Education Skills and Development
Authority (TESDA), Department of Health (DoH), Dangerous Drugs Board
(DDB), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National
Association of School Securities Organization (PHILNASSO), Alliance of
Volunter Educators (AVE) and other education groups.

Dizon said the drug test is legal and for the good of everybody in the
education sector.

Funding for the drug-testing program comes from the P1 billion
promised by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the control of the
drug problem.

DDB and PDEA had earlier reported that 3.4 million Filipinos are using
illegal drugs.

Half of the number or 1.8 million are adolescents, many of them are
still in school.

"This is the biggest accomplishment of Secretary De Jesus who will
check on the rampant drug abuse in many schools nationwide. This
problem is the biggest concern of PHILNASSO, DepEd, and CHED," said
PHILNASSO president Jose Dino.

"PHILNASSO is the only school organization which DDB has awarded for
its relentless campaign against drug abuse," Dino said.

AVE secretary-general Dr. Eulogio "Amang" Magsaysay said it is
laudable to have the drug test among students for as long as their
parents are around when they need to undergo the examination, as long
as it is kept confidential so as not to violate their cnstitutional
rghts and as long as the rehabilitation component is in place. "A
drug-ree society is one step toward quality education," he said.

"The September 1 random drug test for student would plunge into
trouble if a third party reviews the results. There is a need to
ensure that the quality of the test is above reproach," said Vivien
Mangalindan of Total Quality Management Services Inc.

Mangalindan talked at a recent seminar for teachers, administrators
and school officials on the proper way to collect urine samples and on
how to ensure a proper testing environment.

The Supreme Court is even asked by some sectors to dismiss a legal
challenge to the new anti-drug law that orders mandatory, random drug
test.

In seeking the dismissal of the legal challenge to RA 9165, Solicitor
General Alfredo Benipayo said the government's right to protect the
public welfare outweighs the individual's right to privacy.