Angeles City, Pampanga—In support to the current administration’s thrusts against illegal drugs, the Department of Education is stepping up its efforts to implement various activities in line with its National Drug Education Program which includes the proposed drug testing of secondary students, elementary and secondary school teachers, and personnel from the central, regional, and schools division offices.

In preparation for the actual drug testing, DepEd has started its series of Orientation-Trainings on the Drug Testing Program for the Cluster 1 participants on March 1-3 held in Angeles City. The said training, which will run until April 28 for the remaining seven clusters, aims to provide awareness on the legal and regulatory aspect of drug testing.

Participants, which include the regional directors, regional health coordinators, schools division superintendents, schools division medical officers and nurses, guidance counselors, and selected principals will also be oriented and trained on specimen collection and validity testing.

During the three-day training, facilitators will also discuss the initial assessment and intervention for students found to be positive, train participants on documentation and recording of drug testing process, and formulate action plan for the conduct of the random drug testing.•