Random drug test on teachers set next week

CEBU, Philippines —  Before the opening of classes on June 3, the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) is planning to resume the conduct of random drug tests in public elementary and secondary schools next week.

CPADAO Chief Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca said both the teaching and non-teaching staff will be subjected to a drug test.

Since it’s a “surprise” procedure, Meca refused to disclose the schedules and the targeted schools under the Department of Education-Cebu Province Division.

“We have already plotted schedules for the teaching and non-teaching staff under the provincial (level) division,” she said.

The schedules, she said, were already approved by Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud, the DepEd Cebu province schools division superintendent.

Meca said for now, they are still consolidating data of the number of teachers and non-teaching personnel across the province who underwent the drug test in the first quarter of the year.

Moreover, CPADAO has partnered with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 7 in the conduct of drug test on transport groups.

The personnel, drivers and conductors of the Cebu South Bus Terminal were recently subjected to a random drug test.

Aside from DepEd and PDEA, CPADAO also partnered with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Region 7.

In April, CPADAO administered the drug test on 53 jail wardens at the BJMP regional office.

Three hundred more BJMP personnel— Cebu City female dormitory (34); Cebu City male dormitory (128); Toledo City (37); Talisay City (53); Danao City (37); Naga City (19); and Consolacion town (23)—underwent the random drug testing earlier this month. — KBQ (FREEMAN)