Pubdate: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 Source: Freeman, The (Philippines) Copyright: 2005 The Freeman Contact: http://www.thefreeman.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3437 Author: Cristina C. Birondo Cited: Philippine Department of Education http://www.deped.gov.ph Cited: Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board http://www.ddb-ph.com Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines BRIGADE VS. DRUGS IN SCHOOLS FORMED The Department of Education in cooperation with the Cebu City government through the Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse and Prevention created a group of public elementary and high school students, teachers and parents called the "School Brigade Against Illegal Drugs" for its drug prevention program. In relation to this, the city council during its regular session last week set aside P150,000 for the launching of SBAID next month and the simultaneous holding of a two-day seminar workshop for them, covered in the proposed resolution of councilor Augustus "Jun" Pe Jr., who is also the chairman of the council's committee on dangerous drugs. "DepEd believes that SBAID can be a good alternative in helping curb the menace brought by these dangerous drugs, that is here in schools to serve as a good catalyst for the growth, testing and support for creative educational approaches in drug abuse prevention and as a conduit, through which communal efforts must pass," the project proposal read. DepEd officials further had it that since the school is a fertile ground for the proliferation of drugs, it should therefore take proactive measures to prevent students from being hooked into it. It is also hoped that with the creation of SBAID, the school will take the lead in making it as a community effort to work for a drug-free environment. There will be a seminar workshop to be conducted on the 826 members of the SBAID who will be composed of at least three student representatives, two parent representatives and one teacher representative each from the 67 public elementary and 53 high schools in the city. The elementary students will have their seminar workshop on the first day while students from the secondary level will have their seminar workshop on the second day, that is March 3 and 4, respectively. Also, the activity is scheduled such that the morning session is for the students of schools located in the north district and the afternoon session for the south district. Speakers from the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency-7 and the Dangerous Drugs Board will provide insights on the two-day training seminar. - ---