Pubdate: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 Source: Daily Tribune, The (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 The Tribune Publishing Co., Inc. Contact: http://www.tribune.net.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2973 Author: not provided Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) GLOBALIZATION BLAMED FOR PINOY KIDS' INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS TRADE Alarmed, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has blamed the impact of globalization for the growing number of Filipino children involved in the illegal drugs trade. "Drug use is often the stepping stone to children's greater involvement in selling, distribution and production of (illegal) drugs. There is also a link between drug use and the other worst forms of child labor. Children engaged in prostitution, pornography, working in the streets, involved in deep-sea fishing and those in the construction sector are examples of their vulnerability to drug use," ILO chief Werner Blenk said. In yesterday's conference on children in drugs, Blenk said many countries looked into the illegal drugs problem "individually" without delving into the aspect of children's involvement either as victims or channels. Globalization, according to the ILO chief, has added to the worsening problem of illegal drugs trade since shipment can easily be made from one place to another. "There is a clear indication that the present process of globalization has gone wrong. The ILO will look more clearly on the impact of globalization," Blenk assured. A study titled "Working Children in Drugs in the Philippines" showed many Filipino children inititated into drug use were lured by people close to them. The study, conducted by the Ateneo de Manila University and some cause-oriented groups, indicated many children users started younger (12-15 years old) this year than in 1999 when teens whose ages ranged between 15 and 17 had been involved. Metamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, remains as the most commonly used drug with younger children starting to be involved, not only as users in the trade, but also as couriers since they appear less suspicious before government authorities. Aside from delivering illegal drugs, young children are also being used as watchers and pushers, the study also showed. Over the years, the transport and distribution of illegal drugs have changed from shipment via coastlines and insertion through mails and furniture to misdeclaring of cargos. This year alone, the Philippines was ranked third by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as the top producer of shabu worldwide. Earlier, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency revealed there are 175 drug syndicates operating in the country with 45,000 pushers. In 1999, 14 percent of the country's over 42,000 barangays were considered the most seriously affected areas by the illegal drugs problem. This, however, plunged to 8 percent in 2002. Last year, it was estimated that one-fourth of the country's elected officials has benefited from the illegal drugs trade. Delegates from Social Welfare department admitted that the Philippines lacks drug rehabilitation centers. The few such centers the country has, they said, consider children in the drugs trade as criminals, not as minor offenders. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh