The City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) of the local government of Island Garden City of Samal has been supporting the intensified campaign against illegal drugs of the national government through program implementation in conjunction with the various local offices and national agencies.

On August 7, 2023, the City Mayor’s Office-Community Affairs Division, spearheaded by Ms. Karen Kaye Ruiz, had its pilot program of the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) at Nieves Villarica National High School, which was attended by over 400 students from different grade levels. The BIDA Program is a more holistic campaign of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that seeks to reduce drug demand in communities at the grassroots level.

Ms. Ruiz emphasized the importance of engaging the school community with prevention strategies where the most vulnerable individuals, the students, are involved. “This is our way of informing you because nagkataas ang cases sa drugs diri sa Samal, nagkataas ang cases sa HIV sa Samal, and hopefully walay isa sa mga bata diri sa Nieves Villarica ang maapil diri sa mga kaso”, she added.

Furthermore, orientations and lectures that may be associated with the use of illegal drugs were conducted. City Social Welfare and Development Office personnel conducted Mental Health orientation and Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) awareness; City Health Office personnel discussed HIV Awareness and Responsible adolescence; Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel discussed RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; and the City Moral Recovery Program shared valuable and faith-based life lessons. Slogan and poster-making contests also transpired.

Moreover, the Local Youth Development Officer, Mr. Jomar Von Batucan, encouraged the youth that instead of taking part in harmful vices, they should invest their time and energy on honing their talents to become productive and progressive individuals. He added that later in life, their talents would eventually take them far.

The city government continues to exert efforts to prevent youth from being involved in illegal drug use, and as the CADAC embarks on other endeavors, the active participation of the community is urged. (CIO-IGACOS/NBC/ELI.O)