Drug fight goes down to elementary grades level
The battle against illegal drugs has go down to the elementary grade pupils in this city with the entry of "Bata Iwas Droga" (BIDA) Foundation supported by Pagcor chairman Efren Genuino. The anti-drug advocacy among 6-11 years old public school pupils here will be launched on September 3.
City mayor Jerry P. Treñas said his administration is giving all the necessary support to BIDA in its advocacy quest to inform and start educating the young children on the bad effects of illegal drugs to society and family.
The battle against illegal drugs will start in the city's 52 public elementary schools. If informed properly, the children will say “No to drugs”, Treñas said.
BIDA is a multi-sectoral advocacy approach to the drug problem spearheaded by Pagcor, Department of Education (DepEd) and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) with support from the various government agencies such as Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other private organizations and individuals against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Treñas said that BIDA is slating the Grand BIDA March as a major activity celebrating Crime Prevention Week on September 1-7, 2009. Marchers coming from the different areas in the city and province of Iloilo will converge at the Jaro Plaza to eventually forge a march-rally at the Rose Memorial Auditorium of Central Philippine University (CPU) in Jaro district.
Pagcor will be sending Manila based entertainers and the Flow dance musical extravaganza to the event aside from anti-illegal drug speakers in Iloilo coming from the multi-sector groups.
Paul Ledesma of PDEA said his agency welcomes the support of all sectors of society in the fight against illegal drug menace currently affecting all 180 barangays in this southern city, including nine seriously affected barangays.
The PDEA official said there is currently a noted reduction of illegal drug demand at Brgy. Simon Ledesma in Jaro district as various anti-drug operations strengthen the demand reduction campaign conducted in the area against drug pushers and financiers.
Aside from Simon Ledesma, other reported seriously drug-affected barangays are Brgys. Desamparados in Jaro, Bakhaw in Mandurriao district, San Juan, West Habog-Habog and Boulevard in Molo district, and Tanza Esperanza, Malipayon and Veterans Village in the city proper. (PNA)