MONITOR DRUG TEST CENTERS, GOVERNORS, MAYORS DIRECTED

As part of the Arroyo administration's renewed and intensified campaign
against illegal drugs, Interior and Local Government Secretary and Dangerous
Drugs Board (DDB) OIC-Chairman Jose Lina yesterday directed all local chief
executives (LCEs), including governors and mayors, to monitor drug testing
centers in their areas of jurisdiction to ensure that they meet the high
standards set by the Department of Health (DoH).

This developed as Secretary Linahad earlier ordered the suspension of
licenses of seven drug testing laboratories in Manila for violating standard
operating procedures in the conduct of drug tests after a surprise
inspection of some drug testing centers.

The seven erring drug testing centers were identified as the following: One-
Step Drug Testing, Drug Check Drug Testing, James Vann Diagnostic Center,
Joreca Drug Testing, Cyber Drug Testing, Mahogany Drug Testing and NCR
Bio-Scan Drug Testing.

In a memorandum-circular addressed to provincial governors, city and
municipal mayors, Lina directed them to monitor, in coordination with the
Department of Health, drug testing centers in their areas to ensure that
they are duly accredited by the DoH and check their capacity, competence,
integrity, and stability to conduct the necessary laboratory examinations
and tests.

"We should safeguard the quality of drug test results by ensuring that these
testing centers are complying with the requirements set by the DoH," he
said.

The DILG chief also asked local chief executives to impose penalties through
an ordinance, or any similar rule in accordance with the imposable penalties
under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, on those who violated
the DoH requirements and policies on the maintenance of drug testing
centers.

Under RA 9165, the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six years and one
day to 12 years and a fine ranging from R100,000 to R500,000 shall be
imposed on any person authorized, licensed or accredited to conduct drug
tests, who issues false or fraudulent drug test results knowingly,
willfully, or through gross negligence. The drug testing center may also be
closed, and the license to practise one's profession may be revoked.

He directed DILG regional directors and field officers to monitor the
compliance of LCEs and update him on the status of their initiatives through
the Bureau of Local Government Supervision. (Rico Navarro)