PDEA observes national drug abuse prevention, control week
PALO, Leyte — Living up to its role as the region’s lead agency in the war against illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office here spearheaded the celebration of the 2009 National Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week or NDAPCW Week with a series of activities designed to bring drug abuse issues to the forefront of the people’s consciousness.
PDEA regional public information officer Liza Baoy said this year’s celebration kicked off with a motorcade in the city’s main thoroughfares, held on Monday, November 16, with the Department of Health regional office as main sponsor. Contingents from the DILG, DOH-Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, DOJ-Parole and Probation Authority, PNP-Tacloban City Police Office, the DILG and the PDEA supported the motorcade, which converged at the Leyte National High School for an inter-agency drug abuse information drive.
A slogan-writing contest on this year’s NDAPCW theme, “Kilos, Pamayanan! Droga’y Patuloy na Labanan,” was conducted among the LNHS students who attended the forum.
The weeklong celebration was highlighted by the “Rakrakan Kontra Droga,” a band showdown that aims to prove that one need not be high on drugs in order to have great fun. It was held at the Eastern Visayas State University Gymnasium on Friday, November 20, participated in by local bands that provided support to the PDEA’s anti-drug advocacy. This event coincided with the Closing Ceremony, during which a voluntary drug testing was also conducted with the support of the PNP-PRO 8 Crime Laboratory. Students from different educational institutions in the city were in attendance and availed of the free drug testing.
During the said affair, two milestone programs of PDEA in region 7 were launched: the KID, ASTIG!, a student- and youth-based anti-drug movement, and the REALIDAD Ha Eastern Visayas, which was commenced with the signing of a Manifestation of Support by the officers and members of the Region Eight Administrators League, Inc. (REAL, Inc.) led by its President, Ms. Flordeliz B. Menzon.
Investigation Agent V Julius R. Navales, PDEA regional executive officer, led the festivities which lasted well into the night.
Several other activities to raise popular awareness on illegal drugs were also conducted, including photo displays, drug symposiums in government offices, inter-agency visits and coordination activities, as well as participation in the 7-day Barangay Tanod Capability Building Training Program of the TCPO.
As target of the PDEA anti-illegal drug campaign, drug symposiums for massive public awareness and slogan-writing contests were also conducted at the Ipil National High School and the New Ormoc National High School in Ormoc City as part of their continued activities.
The National Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week is celebrated every third week of November, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 124 dated November 21, 2001, to promote public awareness against the evil effects of illegal drugs as well as encourage public cooperation in the government’s anti-drug campaign. (SYLVIA ALVERO ABADINGO)
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