The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 11 has called for mandatory drug testing in private schools in the region.
According to PDEA Region XI Spokesperson Noli Nephi Dimaandal, this aims to help the students who are into illegal drugs.
“This purpose is not to shame the student but to help if they tested positive in the random drug test. There will be an intervention program for them,” he said in an interview.
PDEA also confirmed reports on minors who tested positive in random drug tests. The youngest is a 4th-grade student.
“Just because you tested positive, it doesn’t mean you will be put into rehabilitation facilities. No, he will undergo DDE or Dangerous Drug Examination and the doctor will be the one to validate his independence level if the child needs to enter a rehabilitation center or [if] he just needs guidance, counseling, or aftercare program,” Dimaandal added.
This was opposed, however, by the Department of Education (Deped) XI.
Deped XI Spokesperson Jenilito Atillo said the department will not join PDEA in their said call for a mandatory drug testing in private schools.
“You have to contend with the rights of the child so this is literally and basically an overhaul of the specific provision of the constitution,” he added.—(with reports from Janice Ingente)
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