Philippines approves mandatory drug testing for college admission

The Philippines have approved higher education institutions (HEIs) to implement mandatory drug testing of college applicants and students. Each HEI must first meet with students to discuss a proposed drug-testing program and receive approval from its board of trustees, directors, and regents before implementing the program.

Patricia Licuanan, the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), recently approved the memorandum authorising mandatory drug testing.

The memorandum stated: All HEIs implementing a mandatory drug testing of students must be able to show that it has the approval of its Board of Trustees, Directors, Regents, and has gone through the necessary student consultation process.

Only physicians, drug testing facilities, and private medical practitioners accredited by the Department of Health can administer the tests.

HEIs must inform applicants for admission about the rules and regulations of the drug testing programs. HEIs will have the discretion to deny admission to applicants who fail a drug test.

At their discretion, HEIs may also require enrolled students to take a drug test as part of their retention evaluations. If a student tests positive, the HEI must inform the student and their parents and require the student to take a confirmatory drug test.

If the confirmatory test is also positive, the HEI must then take action it deems appropriate, which could be intervention, rehabilitation or dismissal.

The CHED memorandum also requires HEIs to form a committee to be responsible for implementing the drug-testing program. The committee would be responsible for developing drug education programs promoting drug-free campuses.