First drug-free university in Muntinlupa

The Muntinlupa City government has announced that one of its universities has been able to fulfill the requirements needed to be declared a drug-free school.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun) deserves to be recognized as the first drug-free school in the city after it successfully complied with the requirements laid down by the search committee.

Fresnedi led the unveiling of the "Drug-Free University" billboard in front of the school building located inside the New Bilibid Prisons Reservation area last week. Around 5,000 students, mostly local government scholars, are enrolled at PLMun.

Chito Valerio, head of the city’s Drug Abuse and Prevention Control Office (DAPCO), said that the university’s recognition as a drug-free school is a result of a search they launched to encourage administrators of academic institutions in the city to adopt measures that will help prevent illegal drug activities from taking place in their area of jurisdiction.

"Before being recognized as drug-free, there are several steps that a certain school has to undertake.

"School officials of PLMun first came up with anti-drug policies, which were later explained to students. A random drug testing of students, teaching staff and other school personnel was also held," Valerio said.

He added that PLMun was also required to form a "School Anti-Drug Assessment Team." Officials likewise entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Muntinlupa drug testing laboratory.

Valerio noted that a "Barkada Kontra Droga" forum was also staged at PLMun. This was attended by students, local officials, policemen and representatives of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

He said that even if a school in the city has been declared drug-free, the city government will continue to conduct awareness programs for the students and the residents.

"We would want to fulfill our objective of ensuring that no form illegal drug activities take place in the premises of any school in the city," he said.

He added that they are eyeing the Muntinlupa Science High School, the Muntinlupa Business High School and the Muntinlupa National High School as the next schools that can be possibly declared drug-free. — Rhodina Villanueva