As part of his vision of a “drug-free” Manila, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada has initiated the conduct of symposium in communities to educate residents about the bad effects of using prohibited drugs.
He coordinated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Manila (DILG-Manila) to implement this program aimed at initially covering 90 of the 896 barangays in the city before year-end.
“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,” Estrada said.
He emphasized that the seminar is focused on the adverse impact of drug addiction, not only to health, but also to the families of drug dependents, society and even the government.
“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 [this vice],” the city mayor noted.
The learning activity was already held in Barangays 66, 67, 69, 72, 73, 107, 112, 118 and 123 of District 1; Barangays 393, 394 and 387 (District 3); Barangays 423, 424 and 425 (District 4); Barangays 716 to 721, as well as 833 and 834 (District 5); Barangays 866, 867, 858, 889 and 879 (District 6).
Leading the advocacy cluster of Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), the DILG is tasked to lead in conducting the antidrug symposium to priority communities in the National Capital Region, with the help of local government units (LGUs).
“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,” DILG-Manila Field Office Director Rolynne Javier said.
According to her, there are 50 residents per barangay who can join the program, together with community officials and volunteers.
“Our priority will be the families or relatives of the drug dependents and, of course, the drug dependents themselves,” she said.
The DILG officer added that the seminar will also be led by resource persons from the DILG, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Manila Health Department, Manila Department of Social Welfare and the Manila Police District.
Barangay residents will be guided on how to avail themselves the services and programs of the government. There will also be open forum for the participants to ask questions or give suggestions. What’s more, they will be taught on their role to help solve the perennial drug problem.
“We want to elicit community-based initiatives through exchange of ideas and heighten collaborative efforts of barangay officials, local functionaries and national agencies,” Javier added.
“Our main objective is to minimize drug dependence in the barangays by letting the people know that it will not in any way be beneficial to them, and it will only destroy them and their family,” she added.
The antidrug use symposium is the last strategy of the Estrada administration to fulfill its goal to make Manila as the first “100-percent drug-free city” in the country.
Estrada has also joined the PDEA in conducting barangay drug-clearing operations.
The agency has officially recognized Barangay 663-A in District 5 as the first “drug-free” community in Manila.
Earlier, Estrada ordered to intensify Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils that serve as frontliners in the war against drugs by the local government.
Apart from this, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is continuously implemented in Manila to shield elementary and high school students from the influence of illicit drugs.