Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday celebrated its 18th anniversary and promised to continue braving new challenges and beating greater odds as the country’s lead agency against illegal drugs.
Director general Wilkins Villanueva led the agency’s 18th anniversary celebration through virtual means at its national headquarters in Quezon City.
“This year marks a turning point for PDEA as we continue to thrive through adversity, stay motivated, and rise up even if the odds are not in our favor, especially in these pandemic times,” he said.
As a matter of tradition, PDEA also honored its men and women who have demonstrated exceptional service beyond the call of duty.
Under his watch, Villanueva adopted initiatives amid the COVID-19 pandemic:
“I will never fail the President, the country and the people for the trust to lead the agency as the war on drugs continues despite the odds,” he vowed.
Meanwhile, PDEA has officially launched a Facebook page to serve as the agency’s official online communication platform in the implementation of the barangay drug clearing program.
Known as Barangay PDEA, the online campaign promotes a unique approach in mitigating the menace of illegal drugs in the country by providing updated and accessible information about the BDCP amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“The BDCP is the main framework of the agency’s anti-drug strategy that embodies a holistic and whole-of-nation approach in addressing the country’s drug problem,” PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva said.
“That is why there is a need to widely disseminate the program to enjoin the local government units and people in the communities to support and help in its implementation,” he added.
Apart from improving the social media presence of barangay PDEA, the page would be linked to other online platforms for live broadcasting.
“This should afford the public the chance to ask questions and receive answers live from PDEA resource persons hence, allaying the circulation of fake news while communicating messages of hope and transformation to the Filipino people,” Villanueva said.
The Facebook page features various segments, such as “SA TOTOO LANG” with audio-visual presentations in the actual numbers/data on the war on drugs from the barangay to the national level, and “TUTOK BARANGAY” using live broadcast peg of Villanueva and other resource persons.
Another segment is the “BAGONG BUHAY” to showcase the success stories of those who are on their way to personal transformation and those already reformed after undergoing a community-based intervention program, and the “TULONG TAO,” a segment that sparks volunteerism through the bayanihan spirit.