To strengthen the country’s war against drugs, and to be more confident of the validity and accuracy of their antidrug enforcement procedures, 45 of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) chemists and laboratory staff from around the country are undergoing a seminar-workshop on mass metrology at the National Metrology Laboratory of Industrial Technology Development Institute (NML-ITDI) in Bicutan, Taguig City, from March 2 to 20.
The PDEA chemists and laboratory staff are being trained on the fundamentals of mass metrology and measurement uncertainty, and calibration of nonautomatic weighing instruments (NAWI), specifically laboratory scales.
Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, drives the move for accurate measurement of drugs samples, through the “Tamang Sukat Lagi” campaign of PDEA and NML.
Under RA 9165 a person can be placed to life imprisonment or death for possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or shabu, otherwise called in the streets as chalk, crystal, chemical, crank, ice, glass, meth, speed or tina.
PDEA Laboratory Service Director Derrick Arnold C. Carreon said at the seminar that, “Certainly, with such a small quantity, lives can be changed forever.”
NML-ITDI is the de facto National Metrology Institute of the Philippines tasked by law to be responsible for establishing and maintaining national measurement standards for physical quantities—such as mass, temperature, pressure, voltage, resistance, luminous intensity and time interval, and their dissemination to Filipino users.
It advocates “Tamang Sukat Lagi” as a means to remind businesses and consumers to practice and observe correct measurement. AMGuevarra/S&T Media Service
Image credits: S&T Media Service