PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Palawan’s anti-drug abuse council is set to step up its information drives about Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, particularly among schools in the province’s 23 municipalities next year.
Provincial Information Officer Gil Acosta Jr., in a statement on Friday morning, said increasing campaign drives is a major consideration in Palawan’s plans against hard drugs in 2018.
Tasked to lead the information, education and communications (IEC) campaign is the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), a community-based anti-drug abuse monitoring and prevention body.
“The IEC has been started in some schools in several municipalities this year, particularly on grades 9-12 students. It will be continued in 2018 in more schools in Palawan,” he said.
Acosta added that young people are the most vulnerable when it comes to drugs, and the provincial government is steadfast in ensuring that they are prevented from engaging in the dangerous activity.
Based on data provided by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the province, out of 367 barangays in Palawan, 225 are recorded to be with drug incidence, while 142 barangays are not affected by hard drugs.
He said Governor Jose Alvarez is serious in the fight as illegal drugs can cause crimes, which can impede development.
“Before it grows more as a problem, we have to check every nook and cranny of the society and see where prevention is needed –- the youth. We have to protect them from illegal drugs by informing them about what it is and why engaging in it can destroy their future,” he said. (Celeste Anna Formoso/PNA)
