DavNor’s Padac, Deped’s role on drug menace

DIRECTOR’S Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO IV, Regional Director, DepED Region 11 to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education). "Let me assure you that in the performance of my official duties and even my private acts will be guided and guarded by my Oath of Office, The Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, the Philippine Constitution and all the laws that govern our actions.”

- o0O0o – In a press release issued by the Information Office of the Province of Davao del Norte, it underscored that the preparations are in high gear for the Davao del Norte Provincial Anti- Drug Abuse Council (Padac) Convergence of services for drug surrenderees this coming November 14, 2016, in Kapalong, Davao del Norte

Governor Anthony del Rosario stressed the need for the right intervention for drug dependents to be able to quit their toxic habit as he said his administration is bent on helping the flood of users pledging to kick their habits.

Del Rosario emphasized the need to not leave the victims to battle addiction largely on their own so the provincial government is pilot testing the Padac Information Management System (IMS) to profile, evaluate and provide intervention to all 15,000 drug surrenderees in Davao del Norte, who submitted themselves to authorities.

He added that after undergoing the Padac-IMS, the surrenderees will be given interventions in the form of Spiritual & Moral Recovery Program, Veterinary Assistance, Farm Management Skills Training, Livelihood Training and Scholarship, Basic Education (Alternative Learning System), Social Services, Legal Services, Sports Development Program, PDRRMC Responder Training, Medical and Hygiene Services, and Dental and X-Ray service depending on what the individual decides to avail.

Governor Del Rosario said that while the compliance of the victims is a welcome sign, it is the job of the government to provide them with the effective mechanism to recover and ensure that they are reintegrated to the mainstream of society.

The Governor asked the Dabaonons for all-out support and unequivocal subservience to the commitment to the President’s campaign against drugs, as well as the thrust of rehabilitating the victims and bringing them back to the mainstream of society. - o0O0o – In another development, Deped Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones made clear recently that all schools would not be subjected to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) “Oplan Tokhang”.

Briones said that the entire Department iterate its steadfast support of PNP’s campaign against illegal drugs and inform everyone that both Deped and PNP recognize and implement the long-standing policy that prohibits, with or without the drug problem, police and military personnel from entering school grounds.

Sec. Briones hinted that the reported pronouncement of PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on the inclusion of schools in Oplan Tokhang could be in reference to his coordination with Deped on how the police can help in the enhancement of drug education program.

Briones meantioned that Deped had already started a statistical sampling scheme, wherein students (with parental permission) and teachers tested will not be named to determine the extent of the problem. They are being conducted to help rehabilitate and not criminalize students and/or personnel and if a teacher has been identified with the habit, the policy is to advice the teacher to take a leave to prevent harm on students and to undergo rehabilitation.

This corner hopes that all the efforts towards the rehabilitation of the victims of the drug menace will bring lasting effect that will provide bright future to them for their own good and the Filipino people in general.

You can access DepED Updates, latest issuances, photos and other relevant information through our website: http:// www.deped.gov.ph and our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/deped.regionxi. For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, send your email to region11@deped.gov.ph. For queries, complains and other concerns for the different schools divisions email them to davao.city@deped.gov.ph, davao. delsur@deped.gov.ph, davao.delnorte@deped.gov.ph, tagum.city@deped.gov. ph, panabo.city@deped.gov.ph, igacos@ deped.gov.ph, davao.oriental@deped.gov.ph, digos.city@deped.gov.ph, mati. city@deped.gov.ph and compostela.valley@deped.gov.ph.