Pubdate: Mon, 02 Dec 2002
Source: Sunstar Pangasinan (Philippines)
Copyright: 2002 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1726

CITY BEEFS UP DRIVE vs. ILLEGAL DRUGS

THE Dagupan City Government has launched a two-pronged approach
against the drug problem while rushing plans for the construction of a
rehabilitation center.

Lawyer Simplicio Navarro, executive director of the city Anti-Drug
Abuse Council, said CADAC's efforts were concentrated on checking
supply and demand in the illegal drug trade.

"Our main strategy is aimed at reducing the drug supply as will as the
demand for it," he said in a broadcast interview.

Navarro said CACDAC has already begun a "purok by purok" monitoring
and identification of areas affected by the drug problem in
coordination with sangguniang barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials.

He said Pantal was found to have the most serious drug abuse problem
while Bonuan Gueset was tagged as having the most number of drug
dealers among the city's barangays.

Under CADAC's drug demand reduction program, Navarro said the youth
will be involved in activities design to enhance the development of
values, talents and skills.

"Those who have tried drugs but are not habitual users will be the
target beneficiaries of guidance and counseling sessions while the
obvious drug dependents will be placed under rehabilitation as
required by law," he said.

Navarro appealed to the sangguniang panlungsod for prompt approval of
the supplemental budget proposed by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim for CADAC's
initial operations.

"Every moment of delay could aggravate the local drug problem," he
said.

Citing another problem, Navarro expressed concern over the absence of
a drug rehabilitation center in the entire Region I.

"The nearest rehab center is in Minalin, Pampanga while the one
proposed for construction in Burgos, Pangasinan has yet to be
finished," he said.

Navarro, who heads the Probation and Parole Administration office
here, commanded Mayor Lim for offering to donate a two-hectare lot in
San Fabian as the site of a drug rehabilitation center for the fourth
congressional district.

He said he and his office personnel have undergone "appropriate
training" and prepared to man the center without additional
compensation.

As CADAC chairman, Lim had asked Navarro to rush the blueprint of the
proposed center. The mayor also requested Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
to provide it with funding support.

"The rehab center is an urgent need because, as our operations go
full-blast, we will likely be confronted with a growing number of drug
dependents who have to undergo rehabilitation in accordance with the
law, " he said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek