Persistent in his vision of a “drug-free” Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada has initiated symposiums in the city’s barangays to educate residents about the adverse effects of illegal drug use.
Estrada has collaborated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Manila in this program, targeting to cover at least 90 of the city’s 896 barangays by Dec. 16.
“Drug addiction has serious health and psychological effects and often leads to crimes. It is important that as many people as possible are aware of this,” the mayor pointed out.
Meant as a drug use prevention strategy, Estrada said the seminars focus on the harmful effects of drug dependence not only to physical and mental health but also to the users’ families and to society and government in general.
“Here, we will project drug users as victims that need professional help and community and family support. We want them to realize that continued drug use won’t do good to them, and that it’s never too late to quit,” Estrada stressed.
The anti-drug symposium started last Monday, Nov. 27, in Barangays 833 and 834 in District 5, followed by Barangays 66, 67, 69, 72, and 73 in District 1 and Barangays 393, 394, and 387 in District 3 yesterday, November 28, according to DILG-Manila Field Office Director Rolynne Javier.
On Wednesday, the activity will move to Barangays 107, 112, 118, and 123 in District 1; Barangays 866, 867, 858, 889, and 879 (District 6); Barangays 423, 424, and 425 (District 4); and Barangays 716 to 721 in District 5.
As the head of the Advocacy Cluster of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, DILG is tasked to lead the anti-drug symposium in priority barangays in the National Capital Region in coordination with the local government units.
“We intend to do this every day to achieve our initial target of 90 barangays before the end of December, with the rest of the 800 plus barangays by next year,” Javier said.
At least 50 residents from each barangay will be selected to join the program along with their respective barangay officials and other volunteers.
“Our priority will be the families or relatives of the drug dependents and, of course, the drug dependents themselves,” Javier said.
Resource persons from the DILG, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Manila Health Department, Manila Social Welfare Department, and Manila Police District, will be invited to discuss various topics about drug and substance abuse, its severe effects, how could it be prevented or stopped, and how to avail of government help and services, the DILG official added.
Aside from increasing public awareness about the bad effects of drug use, Javier said the symposium also aims to educate the residents on their role to “proactively address” the problem on illegal drugs.
“We want to elicit community-based initiatives through exchange of ideas and heighten collaborative efforts of barangay officials, local functionaries and national agencies,” the DILG-Manila official explained.
“Our main objective,” Javier further pointed out, “is to minimize drug dependence in the barangays by letting the people know that it will not in any way beneficial to them, and it will only destroy them and their family.”
The anti-drug use symposium is the Estrada administration’s latest effort to realize its vision of a “100 percent drug-free” City of Manila.
Estrada has recently allied with PDEA in the continuing barangay drug-clearing operations; the agency has just officially certified Barangay 663-A in District 5 as the city’s first-ever drug-free community.
Estrada has also ordered the revitalization of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils that are supposed to be the frontline units of the city government’s anti-drug war.
The city government is also implementing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education in local elementary and secondary schools to keep away the youth from the influence of drugs.
