Conduct random drug test on students, HEIs told

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has reminded public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) to conduct mandatory random drug testing on college students starting this school year.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on Cignal TV’s One News on Tuesday night, CHED chairman J. Prospero de Vera III  said the guidelines they issued last year on conducting drug tests on college students still stand.

“The drug testing requirement is already in an existing law,” De Vera said, referring to the provisions in the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. 

“What we noticed is that the implementation is uneven across HEIs. So the CHED memorandum order reminds the universities: you have to do it,” he added.

De Vera recognizes the concerns raised by those who oppose the order, but noted that there have been no complaints from schools that have already implemented such a policy.

“We must understand that this should be a health intervention strategy. It should not be used to discriminate against students,” he said.

“It should not be used not to allow them to enroll. It is a health intervention strategy to create healthy campuses,” he stressed.

Issued last year, the memorandum directed public and private HEIs to conduct mandatory random drug testing on students as required by the law.