Health secretary: All in government to undergo drug test

CEBU, Philippines - Not only those in the education department but all government officials and employees would be subjected to random drug testing as part of the government’s thrust to curb illegal drugs use.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said they are working with other government institutions aside from the Department of Education for this initiative.

“We are coordinating with all government agencies para magkakaroon tayo ng random drug testing in the whole of bureaucracy,” she told the local media yesterday.

Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced during an official visit in the city that elementary and high school public teachers will have to undergo drug testing through the random sampling.

Briones said that if a teacher is found to have a severe case of addiction, he should immediately take a leave of absence and seek rehabilitation or treatment in a government-financed center.

She further said that the teacher may be allowed to return to work but there has to be a proof that he was already well.

Aside from the law enforcers who agree the recent move of the Department of Education implementing mandatory drug testing to all public elementary and secondary teachers, chief executive in the City of Cebu expressed his support to this.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, too, wants drug testing for teachers, saying he does not believe not one of them is a drug user.

“I’m in favor of that (drug test for teachers) because I cannot accept there is no one incompetent among the teachers.  I simply cannot accept (that), with all due respect,” he said.

He, however, declined to elaborate who he thought that way.

The mayor, though, said that the city is willing to extend financial assistance to DepEd in the implementation of a mandatory drug testing.  He also said he supports the plan to include secondary school students in the drug test to ensure that no one in school is a drug dependent.

DepEd is currently ironing out the details on how to do the test to high school students.

 In a separate interview, DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Bianito Dagatan expressed joy on the mayor’s promise to give financial assistance in the drug test for teachers.

“The willingness of the city to give financial aid to DepEd for the mandatory drug testing is a welcome development. It is articulated by our honorable secretary (DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones) that it will be conducted thru random sampling. One consideration is the budget needed. Hence such aid will definitely help,” he told The FREEMAN.

As to the target of having all government employees undergo drug testing, Ubial said the Civil Service Commission has already crafted the revised guidelines for those found positive of illegal drugs use. (FREEMAN)