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. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek