COSAP Eyes Drug Test for Students

● Ten percent of the student population will undergo drug testing thru urine sample, COSAP says.

In line with the school opening Monday, the Cebu City government will start meeting with school officials to discuss plans on conducting surprise drug test on high school students in the city.

Alice Utlang, who heads the City’s Office on Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP), said that together with officials of the Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), they will discuss the matter today with the heads of Mabolo and Carreta high schools including Florencio Urot National High School.

Attorney Clarence Paul Oaminal, CADAC adviser, said they will work together with representatives from the Cebu City Council, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), City Health Department (CHD) and religious groups.

“Mo-visit ta sa mga schools and while didto, makigstorya ta sa principal and other school officials about sa drug test nga atong ipahigayon and at the same time, i-remind namo ang mga students sa dili paggamit sa drugas,” Utlang said.

Utlang said they will proceed with the drug test due to the information from police authorities that the illegal drug problem in the city is rising.

Also, Utlang said they will start the drug test among the three schools because majority of the students there are living in barangays whom PDEA identified as “drug-infested”.

The Department of Education is interested with the idea since this was already conducted in previous years,Utlang said, adding that a series of visitations will follow for the rest of the schools in the city, especially those offering night classes.

As a procedure, COSAP will get 10 percent of the student population of a certain school and subject them to the drug test by taking their urine samples.

Utlang also said that they will act more cautiously in conducting the test and will treat the results with utmost confidentiality in order to protect the identity of those who might be found positive of illegal drugs.

Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 allows drug test among students, Utlang said.