Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency plans to conduct drug test for students and teachers

• PDEA suggests mandatory drug testing for all students and teachers of public and private schools all over the country.
• The agency has also acquired Php190 worth of equipment to help them with their drug testing operations.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or PDEA is now eyeing to conduct drug tests for all students and teachers of public and private schools nationwide.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said that they have asked the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) regarding the proposal or regulations that will later be sent to the Department of Education. He also said that no one should be exempted from this order as they recently caught a 10-year-old Grade 4 student allegedly using drugs. Another case is the three teachers who were caught in Mindanao for drug-related offenses.

“Iyung mga series of arrests na ginagawa natin, iyung nai-involve ay mga estudyante saka mga teachers. Iyung pinaka-youngest naming [hinuli] is I think 10 years old”

Aquino also revealed that they’ve received information about teachers selling drugs to their students at the school.

However, Education Secretary Leonor Briones stated that in order to conduct the drug tests for students, the parents must give their consent first. They also said that the results of the drug test should not be a basis for expulsion.

On the other hand, PDEA has also acquired Php190 million worth of apparatuses, mobiles, and equipment to help them with their drug testing operations all over the country. It includes 43 passenger vans worth more than Php61 million; sedans worth Php18 million; and 120 motorcycles worth Php12 million.

They have also acquired computer equipment worth Php8.2 million.