04 August 2009

Students conduct drug-free education campaign

Seventh-day Adventist schools are expected to live to their distinction as drug-free institutions. Community leaders and drug-free enforcers find this distinction working conspicuously for the benefit of the society.

Police Senior Superintendent Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, provincial director of the Philippine National Police-Davao Sur Provincial Office, spoke openly about such feat for South Philippine Adventist College (SPAC) during the launching of the Drug-Free Education Campaign for the community, August 4, at the college’s La Sage Auditorium in Matanao, Davao del Sur.

“South Philippine Adventist College is absolutely drug-free and our drug-enforcement office is happy for the school’s contribution to society,” said Superintendent dela Rosa.

The said launching enabled the SPAC students to volunteer their services to conduct information drives on buses and passenger jeepneys plying the national highways and by distributing leaflets and stickers to passers-by. Students who board buses and jeepneys told passengers about the advantages of a drug-free family and society.

“My happy family is drug-free, how about yours?” these students asked their passenger-audiences.

Also at the launching of this program, Dr. Chliejvferwyn C. Catolico, SPAC president, reiterated that the advocacies of the college and all other Adventist schools are to make families happy and become campaign leaders against drug abuse. “In fact, our teachers integrate these values in their respective classes and conduct seminars and community programs at summer breaks,” he said.

After the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the partners (SPAC and PNP), the energetic and enthusiastic student speakers were installed together with the policemen who were assigned to escort these students in their campaign on buses and jeepneys that ply the Digos-Bansalan, Bansalan-Digos City, and other routes.

While the campaign was being held, a series of interviews were conducted by the student leaders on those who benefited from the information drives. Several interviewees agreed to have their reactions published.

As regards benefits, Kyna Oberes, a young commuter, said that “the program is very good because it informs us that every family has the right to be happy by instilling the virtue of a drug-free home.” She was joined in by Geraldine Espino, a mother, who thanked the initiators of the program because she “was given guidance on how to help her children abstain from drugs.”

“The ill-effects of drugs were made clear to us,” said Abner Sabate, another passenger. “And I appreciate the efforts of the school and the police for conducting this very important and informative presentations,” added Reynaldo Hernandez.
“As parent, I am so thankful for the lectures on how I can deal with my children on the evil effects of drugs,” May Catane, told the interviewers. “It is very enlightening to us who were not given the privilege to gain such knowledge before.”

There were young people, upon seeing the enthusiasm of the SPAC students also took the challenge of becoming purveyors of a happy family. “I will help with drug prevention drives so that other young people will refrain from this debilitating practice,” said Buddy Makulaw, an 18-year old student at STI in Digos City. Alejandro Chan, was also amused at the program. “Helping parents cope with drug abuse problem is such a noble task,” he said.

The “My Happy Family is drug-free! How about yours?” Program is a collaborative effort between SPAC through the Guidance Department under its director, Mr. Zarcarias C. Escobidal; and the PNP Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office. Its prime objective is to disseminate and inform the public on the preventive measures against drug abuse by instilling family values and good parenting. The program was spearheaded by the College Student Government and Peer Counselors Society under the guidance of the college administration, faculty and staff.

“This is just the beginning of a partnership between SPAC and the PNP in educating the community to keep their family happy by being drug-free!” concluded Police Superintendent Amelia V Tugade, PCR WCD of the Davao Sur Police Provincial Office.

Said program was in line with Republic Act 9165 or known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, where it stipulates that, “there is a need to integrate the Drug Education Program in the school instructions specifically on drug abuse prevention and control in all levels of education – elementary, secondary, and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools, whether general, vocational, technical, or agro-industrial as well as in non-formal, informal and indigenous learning systems.” [Robin Charles Ramos/SPAC BEAT]