Pubdate: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 Source: Sunstar Davao (Philippines) Copyright: 2003 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1991 Note: also listed for feedback FIGHTING DAVAO DRUGS MENACE THE CEBU PROVINCE WAY 'Perhaps, our City Council ought to send some of its members to study the Cebu Province way of fighting the drug menace.' SO MUCH has been said, both "pro" and "con", about the way drug pushing and drug addiction are being addressed in Davao City. Human rights groups deplore the series of summary killings of drug pushers by nameless motorbike-riding gunmen as an infringement of the principle called "due process". Other concerned citizens consider the victims' deaths as good riddance of bad rubbish. The debate on the issue is expected to drag on as long as the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city continues. Perhaps our own city officials can take the cue from Cebu Province on how to successfully address the problem of illegal drugs. A report coming from that province shows how it has "cleared" 61 drug-affected barangays out of the targeted 88, and that the remaining 27 barangays are expected to be cleared by the end of this month or early October. Cebu Province Police Office (CPPO) director, Senior Supt. Naximo Calimlim, identified 146 barangays and sitios of 35 municipalities as the ones beset with the drug problems, which the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) assigned to the CPPO for clearing. Four component cities and 11 towns were considered drug-free. Among eight parameters, a barangay is considered "cleared" if the barangay officials have attested through a formal communication that illegal drugs are already non-existent in their respective areas of responsibility (AOR). A barangay is considered cleared if pushers and drug syndicate members have been arrested or denied access to drug dependents, who are either arrested in turn or brought to rehabilitation centers. Moreover, residents are active in the campaign against drugs, vandalism/graffiti, and heinous crimes. This has resulted in the sudden decline of index crimes formerly attributed to drug cases. Helping in the campaign are the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badac). However, despite the initial success of the campaign, Calimlim says the lack of funds is hampering sustainable implementation of the program. Be that as it may, the Cebu Province way of fighting the illegal drug problem shows that it can be licked if there is cooperation between officials and residents, and the necessary funds are available to sustain such a laudable campaign. Perhaps, our City Council ought to send some of its members to study the Cebu Province way of fighting the drug menace. That would be one "lakbay aral" worth the time, effort and taxpayers' money, unlike the previous "lakbays" that haven't produced results commensurate to the expense. Unless this is done, the Davao City way would continue to be debated no end by the "pros" and "cons", a phenomenon unheard of in Cebu Province. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh