MANILA, Philippines -- Less than one percent -- not 10 percent as earlier reported -- of the more than 8,600 public and private high school students tested positive for illegal drug use, according to the Department of Education.

The random drug tests were conducted during school year 2005-2006 by the Department of Health and the Dangerous Drugs Board in coordination with the DepEd.

Test results disclosed that out of 8,670 students tested, only 67 or 0.77 percent were confirmed positive for drug use. At least 50 of those students came from public high schools, said the DepEd.

The DepEd, however, did not say if similar drug tests were conducted by the government during the 2006-2007 and the current school years.

There are some 5.02 million public high school students and 1.29 million private high school students all over the country.

The random drug tests are allowed under Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the ?Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,? said the DepEd.

Director Thelma Santos, director of the DepEd?s Health and Nutrition Center (HNC), clarified that ?the 10 percent figure (reported earlier by some publications) was the result of a drug use survey conducted in both public and private schools way back in 1989.?