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.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk