DFA Consular Office in Tacloban Participates in a Webinar on Primary Prevention Approaches on Substance Use
Drug Abuse Prevention and Control 2020 poster. (Photo courtesy of DDB)
TACLOBAN 19 November 2020 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office (CO) in Tacloban participated in the Webinar on Primary Prevention Approaches on Substance Use at the Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay Level under the New Normal on 16 November 2020, in commemoration of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control (DAPC) week organized by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) via Cisco WebEx Meeting application.
The webinar aims to exhibit best practices on primary prevention on substance use under the new normal and encourage other Local Government Units to do the same to promote the Government’s anti-drug campaign and strengthen the public’s resolve in the fight against drugs.
During his opening remarks, DDB Chairman Secretary Catalino S. Cuy said that the campaign against illegal drugs have never been more relevant during this time of pandemic. “We cannot let our advocacy be down out of misinformation campaigns and ill source materials, so we must work harder than ever to provide and disseminate accurate information to the public,” Chairman Cuy said.
House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, during his keynote speech on the other hand, highlighted that “even in the midst of the pandemic, trafficking of illegal drugs has persisted... even President Duterte in his latest SONA address has expressed alarms saying that the dealers and players of illegal drugs hiding in the shadow of COVID-19 have stepped up their activities. Truly, the war against drugs is a deep-seated societal menace because of its enormity and sheer magnitude that would take a whole of nation approach to effectively address.”
The webinar, likewise, highlighted the Community-Based Response Unified Strategies Against Drug Abuse (CRUSADA) sa Panahon ng Pandemya, a Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program of the Muntinlupa City. The said program’s objective is to encourage citizens participation in cleansing their own community through series and continuing course of actions, to deliver the stern message to drug personalities that the present dispensation is serious in dealing with the problems through concerted efforts, and to enhance networking, coalition, and cooperation among the LGU, the Barangay, the Police and the communities with the support of National Agencies such as the DDB, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Drug Enforcement Unit - Philippine National Police (DEU-PNP), and other stakeholders towards the attainment of the common goal – A Drug-Free Community.
The webinar series was virtually attended by participants from various National Government Agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). END
(Photos courtesy of DDB)