Random tests enough to prevent drug use among students – Briones

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. Leonor Briones, Secretary of the Department of Education, speaks at Quezon City High School at the opening of classes on Monday, June 04, 2018. Photo by Darren Langit / Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Leonor Briones On July 11, DepEd's random drug testing program for high school students and teachers is enough to prevent drug use among students.

The new proposal of the Philippine Anti-Drug Agency (PDEA) students, Briones cited the existing law that requires random testing.

"The law we have said must be random.As guardians of children, the essential is the welfare, comfort and creation of an appropriate environment for children." [19659006] Section 3, Section 36 of the 2002 Full Dangerous Drugs Act states: " Students in secondary and tertiary schools must, in accordance with the rules and regulations in the school textbook. and with a notice to parents, to undergo a random drug test … "

Briones stated that the results of the ongoing DepEd program are sufficient to launch a drug program. Preventive education for students (READ: New PDEA proposal: Compulsory screening tests for high school students and students)

"We do a sampling and we get the results we want. Ang question namin (Our question is) what will help solve the problem? […] We believe that random drug testing will already give us the information we need to act, "Briones told Rappler on the sidelines of the pre-SONA forum.

DepEd began random drug testing of students and teachers in September 2017.

The drug testing program was to be completed during the 2018 to 2019 school year.

Briones said that the results of this program will serve as a basis for the policy and action of the Department of Education.

"This gives us an idea, gives us information about the prevalence that will be included in the program and that can help us design alternative activities that will divert the attention of our learners from drugs to sports for example, to culture, "

The PDEA had previously proposed mandatory drug testing among elementary students because there were drug users as early as age 10

] but DepEd held up, the law only allowed testing of secondary and tertiary students.

The agencies agreed instead to share information and meet regularly

Debate ]

Compulsory drug testing does not only involve the Department of Defense, but "Filipino society as a whole."

"The debate will be about the whole of Filipino society because that the prop osition is to change the law. So everyone will have to participate, "said Briones.

She added, "Everyone will want to take a position on this. In addition, we will bring the debate also into our own community, but we are not the only determinants of that. " – Rappler.com