Erap taps soldiers for anti-drug education

After police officers, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has tapped Army soldiers to spread the anti- drug education program Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( DARE) to students all over the country.

Estrada said training soldiers to become certified DARE instructors is part of his plan to expand the implementation of the drug abuse prevention program not only in Manila but also in the entire country.

“This is a historic moment. For the first time in the Philippines, the soldiers have joined the ranks of DARE officers. Our soldiers will be our forward force to spread this anti- drug education nationwide,” Estrada said during the graduation ceremonies for the 29 new Army DARE instructors at the Manila city hall on Friday.

The soldiers are members of the Civil Military Operations Group (CMOG), an elite unit of the Philippine Army that specializes in conducting psychological and psychosocial operations or “hearts and minds” campaign in the communities with the aim of winning the support of the civilian population.

Estrada said the 29 Army DARE officers, 10 of whom were women, are welcome additions to the 14 policemen- DARE instructors who have been teaching DARE lessons to Grades 5 and 6 students in Manila public schools.

Estrada serves as chairman of the non- profit organization DARE Philippines Association Inc., which brought and introduced DARE to the country in 1993 when he was vice president and chief of the Presidential Anti- Crime Commission.