QC to impose random drug tests in public high schools, colleges

The Quezon City government will be implementing mandatory random drug testing on students in public high schools, colleges, and universities.

In a report by Marisol Abdurahman on Balitanghali on Tuesday, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said that authorities will conduct the drug testing even without permission of parents.

"We're going to do this in the beginning of the school year. Ang mangyayari lang dito magkakaroon ng malawakang orientation sa lahat ng parents. They are given a waiver that they have to sign. 'Pag ayaw pirmahan, kailangan pa rin ipagpatuloy, kailangan lang konsultahin ang nanay," she said.

The results of the drug tests will remain confidential. If a student tests positive for the second time, they can be admitted into the city's treatment facility or a private facility.

According to the report, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) backs the local government's move.

CHED executive director Julito Vitriolo said that in 2016, he drafted a memorandum order that would include drug testing as an admission requirement in college.

However, it was put on hold after various United Nations human rights groups protested it.

Violation of rights

Non-government organizations focused on the welfare of children are also against the random mandatory drug testing in schools.

In an interview in Balitanghali, Agnes Quitoriano, president of the KnK Children Without Borders said that it is a violation of children's rights.

"Against kami kasi nilabag nila ang basic na karapatan ng mga bata na dapat ang kabataan nasa school. Hindi naman ang mga bata ang problema. It can be in the family, community, so dapat i-direct yung mga programa dun sa mga family at saka dun sa mga community in partnership with the barangay," she said.

She said that at that age, children are still in the experimenting phase, and should they test positive for drugs, they may be taken out of school and admitted into a facility.

The ordeal may have negative effects on children.

"Kahit na sabihin ninyo na confidential ang pag-conduct ng test, the fact na ang bata ay inilabas, nag-undergo ng court hearing, nag-undergo ng rehabilitation, syempre nagkaroon siya ng stigma doon sa school na 'di na siya makapasok dahil sa kanyang history na na-involve siya sa drugs," she said.

Quitoriano said that specialists and psychologists should be consulted on the proper treatment of children, instead of treating children as adults.

She added that children and parents should be educated on the harmful effects of drugs.

"Hindi pa sapat, nakikita lang nila sa TV yung mga pinapatay, binubugbog nakikita nila. Pero wala namang edukasyon tungkol sa epekto ng drugs sa mga kabataan so hindi siya enough," she said. —Jessica Bartolome/JST, GMA News