On July 4, 2002, Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, was signed to law, establishing a Philippine Drug Enforcement and Prevention System.
In support of RA 9165, the Department of Education issued an order emphasizing the role of the educational system in the implementation of Article III relating to the random drug testing of secondary or high school students and Article IV calling for the participation of the family, students, teachers and school authorities in the enforcement of the Act. This role has been incorporated into the National Drug Education Program (NDEP) which was set up in 1992 by virtue of Republic Act 7624 entitled "Integrating Drug Abuse Prevention and Control in the Intermediate and Secondary Curricula as well as in the Non-Formal, Informal and Indigenous Learning System and for Other Purposes." The NDEP was first known as the Comprehensive School-Based Drug Abuse Prevention Program. Its creation came on the heal of the 1989 prevalence survey conducted by the Department which showed that 9.89 percent of respondents from high school and colleges and universities admitted that they had used drugs. The Program, due to lack of funds, did not create much impact. In 1995, interest in the NDEP was revived through Memorandum Order 388 which called for the "Institutionalization of the NDEP in All Schools." Regional directors of the national public school system were directed to plan, implement and evaluate the program at all levels and to provide the necessary financial and material support to ensure continuous operations.
Drug abuse prevention activities such as classroom
References: SOURCES: Dangerous Drug Board, 2002 Annual Report. Manila, 2003 Dangerous Drugs Board, The National Drug Situation. Monograph. Manila. 2002 Dangerous Drugs Board, National Household Survey on the Extent of Drug Abuse in the Philippines, Manila. 1999. National Economic and Development Authority, Medium Term Philippine Development Plan, 2001-2004, Pasig City, 2001 Department of Education, National Drug Education Program. Pasig City. 2003. Department of Education, Drug Abuse Prevention Integrated in Scouting Kit (DISK), Pasig City. 1999. DECS-DDB National Drug Education Program, Support Instructional Materials on Drug Abuse Prevention for Integration in the Elementary Curriculum, Pasig City, 1998