PDEA TAPS TEACHERS AS ANTI-DRUG PARTNERS

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has joined hands with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Rotary Club of North Balintawak District 3780 in tapping teachers as partners and trainers on drug abuse prevention.

Through the ‘Training of Trainors on Life Skills Enhancement in Drug Abuse Prevention’, 53 elementary and high school teachers in Quezon City were equipped with effective management skills in preventive drug education.

The three-day training was held on December 7-9, 2011 at 9 Waves Ciudad Christhia Resort, Carrieland Country Homes II, Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr. said that the activity is part of the demand reduction strategy which is a sustained effort to reduce, if not eradicate, the demand side of the drug chain.

“This effort concentrates on anti-drug advocacy along the lines of public information, public awareness, preventive education and people empowerment,” Gutierrez said.

“This is part of our continuing efforts to involve every sector of society in the fight against drugs, and this time we are involving teachers because they play a vital role in developing positive ways to deal and resist drug abuse among students,” the PDEA chief added.

Director Wilkins M. Villanueva of PDEA Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS) opened the activity with a drug situation update, followed by Undersecretary Edgar C. Galvante, OIC, Executive director and Permanent Board Member, DDB, who presented the government efforts to address the drug abuse problem.

“Teachers are our force multipliers in the national anti-drug campaign; they are our partners in addressing our collective concerns like illegal drug trafficking and drug abuse,” Villanueva said.

Trainers from the DDB led by Teresita C. Pineda, Chief, Preventive Education Training and Information Division, conducted the training using six modules covering skills on presentation, communication, decision-making, facilitation, assertion and personal skills.

“The training aims to highlight the role of educators, as mentors of the youth, in creating a drug-free country. It equips them with the means to convey preventive education to both primary and secondary students,” said Pineda.

Edmundo C. Echano, president of Rotary Club of North Balintawak, coordinated with the Division of City Schools, Quezon City to enable elementary and high school teachers adopted by each Rotary Club of District 3780 to participate in the three-day training. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency