TO INTENSIFY its anti-illegal drug campaign measures, the Cebu Provincial Government is taking its programs down to the school level.

During the first Kasayuran sa Kalambuan forum for 2019 held last Friday, January 11, Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) Executive Director Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano said they are highlighting the participation of schools to ensure that their anti- drug campaign programs remain sustainable.

"Last year, we focused on drug education, but we've realized that it has to be more than that. We want to promote the active collaboration of our students, teachers and parents with our stakeholders," she said.

While the Province's "Barkada Kontra Droga Movement" has been working since 2015, Durano said they plan to empower it through the establishment of kiosks.

The kiosks, which will be supervised by the supreme student council officers from 12 pilot public schools in the province, will contain anti-drug information and educational materials for students.

"We chose the schools based on the number or density of areas highly affected in terms of surrenders. We saw that the drug problem among minors will always go back to the family," Durano said.

CPADAO is currently coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) on the confidentiality of the schools' names to prevent prejudice.

Aside from this, CPADAO and the DepEd are also working closely on the conduct of seminar-workshops for teahers and guidance counsellors.