Thursday, January 15, 2009 Police aim for drug demand reduction
THE battle against illegal drugs continues as National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Leopoldo Bataoil exhorted Metro Manila policemen to exert efforts on reducing its demand in the metropolis.
These efforts, said Bataoil, are enumerated in the drug demand reduction strategy of the NCRPO's anti-drug campaign.
Bataoil primarily directed the Police Community Relations Division (PCRD) of the regional, districts, and station levels to implement activities with the end of totally eliminating the demand for illegal dugs.
As of last year, 974 barangays from the 1,671 total barangays in Metro Manila were affected by illegal drugs based on the records of the NCRPO Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group. From the total number of barangays, 674 were declared cleared of illegal drugs.
With this number, Bataoil said that policemen should reach out to the community and educate the people on the ill-effects of drugs by conducting lectures in schools and barangay sectors.
"There should be a concerted effort between station, district and regional offices, and coordination with the local chief executives, barangay officials, and civilian organizations to eradicate the menace of drug addiction," he said.
Drug testing in schools, law enforcement agencies and other sectors will continuously be enforced in Metro Manila as well as anti-drug programs in the workplace.
Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered random drug testing in schools at all levels after she designated herself as the anti-drug czar.
Bataoil meanwhile said he also tasked the PCRD to conduct information campaign on the salient provisions of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act 2002.
The strategy includes the putting up of after-care programs for rehabilitated drug dependents.
The anti-drug campaign of the NCRPO dubbed "Kontra Droga ng NCR" in support of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is intended for an aggressive and sustained operations against illegal drugs in four fronts, namely: supply reduction, demand reduction, internal cleansing, and legal offensive. (VR/Sunnex)
