Youth leaders tapped in fight vs illegal drug abuse
THE Dagupan City government takes its campaign vs. illegal drugs to the barangays to put a squeeze on the demand for the prohibitive drugs.
Mandated to lead the efforts at the grassroots level are the Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) whose select young members of Task Force on Youth Development (TFYD) have been tapped to help in the demand-reduction component of the campaign.
The strategy was decided on during the very first Dagupan City Anti-Drug Abuse Summit in the city that started last July 23. The Dagupan City Police Station (DCPS) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) discussed BADAC’s focus and duties in support of the city government’s campaign.
BADAC in the 31 barangays agreed to compile and update watch list of suspected drug pushers regularly and to conduct mapping of suspected users in their respective communities.
The active engagement of the TFYD, as a member of the BADAC, in the campaign was decided since it represents the youth sector, considered most affected stakeholders in the fight against illegal drugs.
P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano, chief of DCPS, said the involvement and treatment of minors being used as couriers by drug syndicates was among the issues raised during the summit by the barangay officials.
Rhoderick Dawis, head of DILG Dagupan, explained that the TFYD’s active involvement is crucial since “the youth leaders can best influence their peers.”
The TFYD, created by law as a temporary replacement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), has access to the 10% budget allocation originally intended for the SK for its projects.
The TFYD’s activities are supervised by the barangay kagawad who heads thecommittee on sports and youth development, composed of youths ages 15 to 17 years old appointed by the barangay captain. (Hilda Martin Austria)
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