The Commission on Human Rights reminds the government of its obligation to always put premium on the welfare and rights of the children, in line with the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Philippines ratified, and other domestic laws passed to this effect. While the recent SWS survey shows a 51% approval for the mandatory drug testing of Grade 4 students and up, it is worth noting that a total of 49% percent remains undecided and disapproves of the said mandatory drug testing.

There should be sufficient guidelines should this initiative push through, which prohibits the school or agencies from imposing sanctions—administrative or criminal—to those found to be a user or dependent, and will not, in any way, affect the children’s access to their right to education.