Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region VII, Central Visayas
Division of Cebu
ST. ISIDORE LABRADOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, INC.
Maya, Daanbantayan, Cebu
Tel. No. 346-5975
“Symposium on Drug Awareness”
April 19, 2023
The issue of drug abuse has already been with us for a very long time. Knowing the
adverse effects of drug abuse in the society’s culture and general well-being, many measures
have been proposed and implemented by experts in order to reduce and relieve, if not totally
eradicate these effects. One such measure is drug prevention education.
Because of the rapid increase of crime rates and drug abuse in the country, educating
people more specifically students or youth, who are subject to temptation for illegal drugs, is
needed. To address this problem, the Daanbantayan, Cebu, Philippine National Police
conducted a symposium that aims to educate students of St. Isidore Labrador Child
Development Center Inc. on the issue about drug abuse and on how to prevent from using
drugs and what are the different causes why some involve themselves in such drugs. We can
help one another for us to have a brighter and a better Philippines.
To start the symposium, a prayer was first conducted and an opening remarks by Mr.
Herman Pilapil, Grade 11- STEM adviser at the same time the Master of Ceremony of the
event. Followed by an inspirational message by Hon. Emil P. Rosales. A brief preview about
the symposium was given by Police Executive Master Sergeant Wilfredo B. Bunado with an
additional inspirational message. Police Staff Sergeant (PSSg) Geraldine Arreglado share
her insights and an informative discussion about “Drugs” it was stated that in the late 1999 , 1.8
million people regularly used drugs , 1.6 million occasionally used drugs and 1.2 million
teenagers are addict. In 2016 record, 4 million people used drugs in the whole Philippines
(estimated calculation).
Here are the reasons why most teenagers engage themselves in illegal drugs:
Peer Pressure
Broken Family
Members of the family used illegal drugs
Signs that a certain person used drugs:
Having weird marks and wounds on the body
Covering the arms
Wearing sunglasses inappropriately
Change of sleeping hours
Involvement in crimes
Ways or things to do to avoid using drugs:
Get to know your friends or the people around you
Join to extracurricular activities; sports, dancing and activities or projects in the society
Be a good model to your siblings
Consult to Psychiatrist or professional doctors if mental stability can’t be manage
Talk to authorities if uncontrolled situations occur
After the drugs discussion, Police Master Sergeant (PMSg) Hendry Compuesto talks
about Community Anti-Terrorism Awareness (CATA) and Communist Terrorist Group
(CTG) Problem.
Communist has killed thousands of Filipinos, destroyed many families and robbed us of the
peaceful and prosperous lives we all dream of. Thousands of lives lost, NPA was killed
thousands of their own lighters from 1983 to the 1990’s during the purges. More than 10,000
civilians and thousands of our soldiers and policemen were killed. In the 2019 Terrorism Index,
Philippines ranked 9th. Terrorist activity in the Philippines was dominated by the NPA which was
responsible for over 36% of deaths and 39% of terror-related incidents, while JICA estimated
that lost economic opportunities due to NPA attacks are in billions annually. Billions are extorted
by the NPAs from TELCOs, Mining, Transport, Power, Generators and businessmen, 3 to 5
percent of the project cost are extorted by the NPAs from contractors of government
infrastructure projects which also reach billions of pesos.
To attain an inclusive and sustainable peace, and the adoption of a national peace
framework, the government adopted different military-led strategies to solve the CTG problem.
“Search and Destroy” in the 70s to the 80s
Lambat Bitag/ SOT in the 90s
National International Security Plan (NISP) in 2001
The question was, did these military-led strategies succeed? Obviously not. We are
losing the war against the CTG in the arena of propaganda. No information campaign to inform
people of the programs that our government has launched for their welfare, the communist were
able to tell their lies while they fail to say the truth.
Communist propaganda against Government:
“ Anong pakinabang nyo dyan, wala naman kayong kotse?”
“Ginawa lang yan ng gobyerno para sa mga negosyante na pagsasamantalahan kayo”.
“Wala kasi ang gobyerno para tulungan kayo, pero kami nandito.”
Their intention is to win the hearts of the people to merge with them. On the other hand, no
information campaign to inform the people about the government’s deeds as to:
Explain to why the road was built
Inform that the road was built for them
The victims of the terrorist were made to line up and given the goods
Every activity of the government must have a statement to emphasize that the
government is working for them, that our people longs to see and feel that the government are
concerned to them.
To somehow solve this problem, a number of peace talks have been conducted across
the different administrations, all failed because of the deceit and treachery on the part of the
CTG even while the peace talks were ongoing, they attacked people, they burned plantation
equipment and murdered IP leaders, ambush the government security forces, sabotage
government projects, extorted money and continue to recruit and kill children. The CTG only
took the advantage of the Peace Talks to support their organizational, political and army build-
up.70% of the NPAs are IPs and they are using their ancestral land as terrorist camps. They set
up schools, and indoctrinated IP children on the CTG doctrine.
Terrorism and violent extremism are severe and evolving threats to international peace,
security, human rights, and sustainable development, inflicting unimaginable suffering on
victims, families, and communities. That is why we need to work hand in hand and believe to the
government’s good will for the betterment of our country.
The symposium was closed by an inspirational and motivational message coming from Police
Executive Master Sergeant Wilfredo B. Bunado. After that is the giving of certificates to the
respected speakers. The symposium ended at exactly 11:00 am.
JARENE G. CODILLA
Faculty Secretary
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