Student leaders tapped in campaign vs drugs
The Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) has launched the Barkada Kontra Druga (BKD) in partnership with educational institutions yesterday at the Capitol Social Hall.
The speakers encouraged the attending school representatives, particularly the supreme student government (SSG) leaders, to institutionalize a group that will promote a drug-free life at the secondary school levels.
This is the third year the Cebu provincial government organized the BKD.
CPADAO Chief Carmen Ivy RemediosMeca said that tapping the SSG is an effective and sustainable measure, instead of creating a new group in all the public schools across the province.
She continued that this orientationseminar also provides an opportunity for the students to gather, learn and hone their leadership skills.
Moreover, it is also an avenue to widen both the SSG officers and their advisers’ perspectives on issues related to drug problems and to be able to introduce programs and projects that would address this menace and to work together as antidrug advocates.
As an output, the participants were asked to draft an action plan on how they can promote a drug-free life in their respective schools.
After the seminars, Meca said that a series of campus tours will be conducted around the province for the launching of the drug information kiosk, which will carry the theme, “The Truth about Drugs.”
Meanwhile, Tess Pineda of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Information Unit encouraged the participants to join the local search for the best BKD implementation.
Since the start of the BKD, Cebu has yet to send a nominee. South Cotabato was the winner of the 2017 search.
Meca said that she is hoping at least one school in Cebu will make it to the 2018 search.
Pineda also hopes for the BKD program will be expanded in the communities.
"Now that the SK has been reactivated, now community-based BKD can be started again," she said.
Meca clarified that the focus of the BKD for now are the schools, as mandated by Dangerous Drugs Board.
However, CPADAO is also keen to support should SKs request for their assistance to start a program similar to BKD in the barangay level.
Through the joint efforts of multiple organizations, the CPADAO chief hopes that users too can be transformed and live a drug-free life.
Ambrad/GAN