Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada vowed to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in Manila, as he welcomed 39 former drug defendants who underwent a six-month rehabilitation program at the “Sagip Buhay, Sagip Pangarap ng Manila” Treatment and Rehabilitation Center.
The former president and now Manila executive awarded certificates of completion to the first batch of former drug addicts at the Manila City Hall’s Bulwagan Hall, where he also encourages young people to live a healthy lifestyles and healthy life.
The mayor was assisted by Committee on Health chairman 3rd district Councilor Maile Atienza, Manila Health Department head Dr. Benjamin Yson, Manila DILG district head lawyer Rolynne Javier, PDEA-Manila District Officer Sharon Omenga and Manila Barangay Bureau Head Arsenic Lacson.
The drug rehabilitation program was spearheaded by Dr. Yson, who likewise educated the young people on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Estrada said he fully supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs which he said continue to pose serious problem to the young people who are the future leaders of the country.
“In my many years in the government, since the Sixties [1960s], when I was still mayor of San Juan, I have supported the fight against drugs. I want to repress drugs and send all drugs lords and pushers in our communities to prison,” the mayor said.
He likewise called on the public to do their part to address the true source of the problem, which is illegal drugs, the root cause of criminality.
Since being elected mayor of Manila, Estrada has taken a personal interest in overseeing the anti-drug initiatives of the city. He is especially concerned at the high rate of drug users that reportedly using illegal drugs at an early age.
The mayor said it is his personal responsibility to see that more is done to better educate young people about drug use, and to provide a more thorough apparatus for supporting communities in the fight against drugs.
He said the “Sagip Buhay, Sagip Pangarap” project will not be a success without the effort of Dr. Yson, the Manila Council and Barangay officials.