ILOILO CITY -- A drug-prevention program will start in selected Western Visayas schools next week following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between concerned government agencies and non-government organizations on Monday.
Dubbed Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, it aims to bring about a drug-free environment for children.
The program will be implemented by the regional directors of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Bless Our COPS Movement Inc.; and Battle Against Drugs.
PNP Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag said the program would be a big help to save children from illegal drugs. He is hopeful that the program would become effective and sustainable as the current administration is relentless in its campaign against illegal drugs.
DARE is a school-based drug prevention program which will train enforcers who ill be deployed to teach drug-prevention subject in selected elementary, middle and senior high school.
There are 66 DARE officers in the region who underwent 80 training hours in classroom management, teaching strategy, school curriculum, among others and are ready for deployment.
DARE officers will offer 10 lessons per week for 45 minutes to an hour per session.
The sessions will cover teaching students the skills needed to recognize and resist social pressures to use drugs, lessons in providing information about drugs, teaching decision making skills and building self-esteem, among others.
The program will also increase police visibility in schools, prevent and control crimes, prevent children from the use of illegal drugs and other harmful substance, reduce violence and prevent the presence of gang members and fraternity wars in schools and to enhance the image of the whole PNP.
Meanwhile, education program specialist Suzett Pamplona of the DepEd expressed gratefulness for the program because it will save a lot of school children who are the “most vulnerable sector” with respect to illegal drug activities.
Currently, the agencies are still in the process of collecting and identifying schools to be prioritized for the program. (PNA)
