Pubdate: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2003, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Author: Niel Mugas , with Jefferson Antiporda Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) Note: The Philippines require a drug-test for renewal of a drivers license. DOH: DRUG TESTING CENTERS NEED FUNDS, NOT NEW RULES Procedures to detect illegal substances in drivers applying for the renewal of their licenses have not been accurate, owing to the lack of funds, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said yesterday. In an interview with The Manila Times, Dayrit explained that only those who test positive for illegal drugs use will undergo confirmatory testing though the requirement covers all applicants. But Dayrit sees no need to revise the system, as Sen. Robert Barbers recommended. "Just give us enough funds and we'll do everything right," he said. The funds for confirmatory testing are limited so priority is given to those who test positive, which represents 10 percent of all applicants. Dayrit acknowledged that the procedure was dangerous and unreliable, because the High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HP/LC), the technology currently used for drug testing, does not specify what substance was taken and how much. Dayrit noted that some legal substances have the same effect of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu so some individuals taking prescription drugs may test positive as shabu users. Shabu users, meantime, could test negative if the amount of shabu taken in the days before the test was very low. Dayrit agreed with Barbers that there is a need for Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MC), a more advanced technology for drug testing. He said that only five GC/MC units are available in the country and that this could allow the tampering of documents in regional drug testing centers. "The lack of this technology has indeed opened for opportunities at the regional levels, and even to fake drug testers. There should really be sufficient funding to accomplish effective drug testing among license applicants," Dayrit said. Meantime, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) denied yesterday that UN drug inspectors are in the country to determine the extent of the operations of drug syndicates. PDEA Undersecretary Anselmo Avenido Jr. acknowledged, however, that a team of Bangkok-based UN antidrug experts is arriving in June to update PDEA personnel on strategies to counter the trade in illegal drugs. The training involves computer-based antidrugs operations. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk