By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent
The city council’s Com-mittee on Education chaired by Suzette Magtajas-Daba has confirmed reports that illegal drug proliferation in the city has victimized elemen-tary and high school students in the city.
Daba said her commit-tee is set to discuss the issue of mandatory drug testing to all private and public school to both elementary and high school students following reports that there are students found to be using illegal drugs.
“Suportahan ta kini nga move para gyud ma-limpyo og dili makawang ang kampanya sa atong gobyerno,” she said.
She said this issue is the top priority agenda under her committee.
On Monday, the De-partment of Education (DepEd) has announced the plan to conduct mandatory drug testing among all schools in the country.
However, DepEd offi-cials said they had limited funds as national drug testing among all private and public schools in the Philippines would need a substantial amount of money –– reason why only random drug testings have been done so far.
Daba confirmed that there are reports that law enforcement agencies like Philippine Drug Enforce-ment Agency (PDEA) is now monitoring drug syn-dicates who may possibly use the youth in their illegal drugs trade.
“Nagpabilin kini hangtud karon nga problema. Daghan kayo estudyante sa pagka-karon ang nabiktima sa druga og wala na kini nagpili sa edad and this cause high crime rate in the city[sic],” she stressed.
She said her committee will pass a resolution to strictly incorporate anti-illegal drug information campaign to be included in the regular curriculum of all levels.
“Kinahanglan giha-pon nato nga i-intensify ang drug education program and counseling because we have to admit nga lack(ing) gyud atong funds for drug testing,” she pointed out.
Daba said she would also inquire if they can use funds coming from the Local School Board to augment expenses for the anti-illegal drugs campaign in schools.
In DepEd and DOH guidelines, they will not force students to take the drug testing. However, the government agencies are confident that the students will be willing to take the test.
The students who will get a positive result will not be suspended or dismissed from school, according to Dangerous Drugs Board guidelines posted on the PSN report.
The campaign is aimed to stop students from using illegal drugs and to suppress drug pushers who use the youth as couriers. Under the juvenile justice law, children below 18 are not liable to any criminal law.
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