Pubdate: Mon, 24 Jan 2005
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SEVERE HEADACHE

'Drug Abuse Is City's Top Problem'

DRUG ABUSE is the number one problem that the city is facing, a top city 
government official said yesterday, quoting a latest survey.

In the public affairs program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa, City 
Administrator Wendel Avisado said he based his statement on the survey 
which the city government commissioned during the last two weeks of 2004 in 
determining the perception of Davaoenos on the problems hounding the city.

"Of the total number of respondents at 5,372, 66.8 percent or 3,550 
individuals pointed at the drug-abuse problem as the number one problem of 
the city.  This was confirmed on the discovery of a shabu laboratory in the 
city," he said.

The survey also identified the other problems as high prices of basic prime 
commodities, child prostitution, abusive police officers, unemployment, 
poor roads and drainage system, minors involved in crime, support to the 
farmers, and garbage.

Avisado said the finding will make the people understand more the city 
mayor's strong campaign against illegal drugs.

"It has been the mayor's commitment to the city of Davao to clear the area 
with illegal drugs, and those who are involved would face the full force of 
the law," he said.

Avisado also expressed that the intense competition in the illegal drug 
trade may have resulted in the summary execution cases as they people might 
have been killing one another.

"Whenever there are formal complaints, no one would show to witness. 
Everybody wants to know the truth, but the problem is there are no 
witnesses," he said.

Avisado stressed the city government has a rehabilitation program for drug 
dependents who want to reform.

"We are spending people's money for those who want to reform from drug 
abuse.  Why are some people still indulge in drugs, aggravating more their 
lives?  They must not use poverty as a license to defy the law. Your 
foolishness will go back to your body," he pointed out.

Avisado said the option left for the city government is to remind drug 
dependents that they can still be put under rehabilitation.

"It is because, we are not the only one working.  They also have enemies in 
the drugs trade who are out to kill because of turf war, then put the blame 
to the government.  We need the people's cooperation," he stressed, citing 
that P12 million had been spent for the city's drug rehabilitation.
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