OPLE, DOLE LAUNCH PROGRAM VS DRUG USE AT WORKPLACE

Sen. Blas Ople launched yesterday the Drugs Don't Work! program of the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which aims to counter the growing
prevalence of drug use in the workplace.

During a trainors' training seminar under the program, Ople expressed
concern over the prevalence of drug use among workers, particularly in the
transportation and communication sectors.

The senator from Bulacan said drug abuse has become a major problem among
bus owners and taxi operators, thus threatening the lives of commuters.

Ople, a former labor secretary, cited a 1997 study conducted by the
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), which shows that 12.6 percent of workers in
the transportation and communication sectors have tried drugs.

Coming in a close second was the utility sector, composed of electricity,
water and gas companies, with a drug use prevalence rate of 11.5 percent.
The manufacturing sector had an 8.2 prevalence rate in the said survey.

Ople said the DDB had also conducted a survey in Metro Manila with some 951
bus, jeepney, taxi and tricycle drivers in 1999. The survey results showed
that 28 percent, or 266, of those surveyed admitted to drug use.

"Shabu remains the first drug of choice among these public utility
drivers," Ople commented.

The senator spoke before DOLE Public Employment Service Officers who
attended the seminar on substance abuse prevention at the workplace jointly
sponsored by DOLE, ASAP Foundation and Ople.

Ople led the launching of the anti-drugs website during the same forum with
DOLE Undersecretary Lucy Lazo and NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco. The website
can be accessed by clicking "www.drugfreeworkplace.net" and contains
information on substance abuse prevention strategies.

The website is part of the Drugs Don't Work! program launched by DOLE, ASAP
Foundation through the help of Ople. Aside from the website, the Drugs
Don't Work! program also provides free seminars, employers guides, posters
and stickers to those companies who would like to have their own in-house
anti-drugs programs.

Also present at the launching were DDB executive director Bernardo
Lastimoso, DOLE director Teresita Manzala and Occupational Safety and
Health Center director Dulce Gust.

Companies interested to sign up with the Drugs Don't Work program may
contact Corina Unson at 522-7562 or the office of Ople at 525-3568.