Pubdate: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 Source: Sunstar Pampanga (Philippines) Copyright: 2003 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2252 Author: Dante M. Fabian ANGELES CITY ACADEME HAILS FIGHT VS ILLEGAL DRUGS ANGELES CITY -- Members of the academe lauded Mayor Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin for launching a series of symposia on drugs in schools and universities, which formally started last November 10 at the Angeles City High School Special Science Class (ACHS-SSC). Rowena Pangilinan, a ACHS-SSC faculty member, said they are very grateful to the City Government, especially to Mayor Lazatin for reaching out to the youth and for launching effective programs such as this. "We thank the City Government especially Mayor Lazatin for launching programs for the youth and conducting this symposium, which will not only educate them on the ill-effects of illegal drugs, but also direct and help them to ultimately say no to drugs," Pangilinan said. Corazon Colle, Holy Angel University (HAU) Administrative Affairs Officer-High School Department, pledged their support to this undertaking of the city government. Meanwhile, Mayor Lazatin also vowed that this administration would further strengthen the youth and continue its battle against illegal drugs. "We would not only educate you but help you say no to drugs," Lazatin said to students attending the symposium. This series of symposium on drugs handled by Col. Eden Reyes, Chief of Angeles City Police (Acpo) Station and Lambat Droga Chief Secretariat Reny Mariano aims to spread awareness on drugs and its prevention as well as inform them of the Lambat Droga Project of the City Government. The symposia reached about 2000 students from ACHS-SSC, HAU, Holy Family Academy, Systems Plus Computer College, Angeles Water District, Narciso High School, Jocson College Incorporated, Republic Central Colleges and Angeles City National High School. Reyes said that the continuous public information and education drives launched by the Lazatin administration has been contributing much to the police force in its fight against illegal drugs. Reyes said that the awareness of schoolchildren on the illegal drugs has helped police gather information that led to the arrest of several drug pushers and sent many drug dependents to the rehabilitation center in Magalang, Pampanga. Mariano said that the present administration's education program aims to spread awareness on schoolchildren and out-of-school youth about dangerous drugs and its prevention. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin