PDEA 12 chief lauds South Cotabato’s anti-drug campaign

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Monday 26th of November 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Nov. 26 (PIA) -- South Cotabato leads the entire Soccsksargen Region in terms of anti-drug abuse campaigns, said Aileen Lovitos, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 12.

“I commend South Cotabato because they have the most active anti-drug abuse councils in the entire Region 12,” Lovitos told reporters at a press conference during the culmination program of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week celebration here on Wednesday.

Region 12 or Soccsksargen Region consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

Activities in South Cotabato, she said, show the strength of the local government units and other sectors in helping the Philippine National Police and PDEA in the campaign to fight against illegal use of drugs.

She also commended the provincial government’s focus on strengthening Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badac) and Municipal Anti –Drug Abuse Councils (Madacs) as a counterpart of the provincial council in enforcing the campaign at the village and municipal levels.

She also noted the involvement of the youth sector and other stakeholders in the campaign on the ill-effects of illegal drugs.

“This collaboration of PNP, PDEA, local government units, other government institutions, and non-government organizations show that we are doing good in South Cotabato,” Lovitos said.

At the same press conference, Dr. Gertrudes Dajay, medical officer of Department of Education South Cotabato Division, reported that they have three ongoing programs that reaches out to youths and their parents in accordance with the National Drug Education Program.

Among these is the Kalaban ng Iligal na Droga(KID, enemy of illegal drugs) Listo Program, a modular training course teaching young people the ill-effects of using illegal drugs and controlled substances.

In the entire region, South Cotabato is also the first province to officially launch Barkada Kontra Droga in June this year. Like the KIDListo, this program also focuses on young people leading the campaign.

For parents, they also conduct Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) aimed at promoting responsible parenthood and guiding parents in guiding their children.

Meanwhile, Eduardo Siason, South Cotabato’s deputy governor for special concerns and action officer of Padac, reported that successful drug operations have increased this year, resulting in shortage in the funds allocated for the provincial government’s reward program.

“Out of the P300,000 allocated meant for rewards, only about P54,000 is left,” Siason said.

Considering about P100,000 for pending recommendations and additional rewards for at least seven police operatives in Tboli town, the province is short by at least P80,000.

He said, Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. will request that the remaining rewards be charged to the funds of the Provincial Peace and Order Council.

On Wednesday, South Cotabato also cited the best performing barangay and municipal drug abuse councils.

Named Best Madacs were Tupi (1st place), Sto. Nino (2nd place), and Norala (3rd place). These LGUs received P30,000, P20,000, and P10, 000, respectively.

Best Badacs were: Cannery Site in Polomolok, (1st place), Panay in Sto. Nino (2nd place) and Dumadalig in Tantangan (3rd place) that received P20,000, P10,000 and P10,000 cash rewards. (DED-PIA 12)