PDEA-7 educational center breaks ground
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region (PDEA) -7 welcomed a substantial donation from the Cebu City government yesterday with the groundbreaking of a building that will serve to support the agency's anti-illegal drugs campaign.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña, PDEA-7 Regional Director Yogi Ruiz, and Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
The one-story building will be built inside the PDEA-7 compound and is intended to be used as a classroom where PDEA can hold anti-illegal drug seminars and lectures to educate citizens on the harmful effects of any type of illegal-drugs.
Cebu City will be shouldering the cost for the construction of the building.
A construction analysis will now be done to determine the total estimated cost for the construction and the time frame for completion.
This is part of a long-term plan which aims to generate support and empower the public to fight against illegal-drugs in the community. PDEA's action plan is geared towards demand reduction to parallel it with anti-illegal drug operations which aims to decrease supply.
According to Lapeña, the fight against illegal-drugs must permeate to the grassroots level and that the cooperation of the barangays and the eagerness to help of the families of illegal-drug surrenderers or suspects should be considered to achieve a drug-free community, step-by-step.
“We envision the barangays to be selfreliant neighborhoods that are capable of formulating anti-drug abuse programs. At the end of the day, the final battle will be fought at the doorstep of the barangay, down to the families; the parents will be the most effective lecturer sa kanilang mga anak.” Lapeña said.
Meanwhile, Osmeña also announced his plans to build a K-9 facility at the South Road Properties together with 100 K-9 units to be handled by former drug dependents.
But he said the plan will take time to materialize as it will undergo the proper consultation process from the national government, aside from the selection of qualified ex-drug dependents to be handlers.
According to Osmeña, the offensive against illegal drugs in the region should continue and that additional force will aid the city to be self-sustaining. He said he wanted the city to have enough resources to help neighboring cities and provinces.
“We think we can eliminate drugs, yeah we can eliminate drugs, we can eliminate crime, we just have to kill everybody, but that's not our style. That's one of the things that get people burned out. We set up the system so there will be a reduction. Ang importante lang gyud it has to be sustainable, and it's to the ones who will take over to continue. Let this chapter be a contribution to future generations,” Mayor Osmeña said.