Hard work and strong determination have resulted in another success story for the Quezon City government.
The QC government will be receiving a prestigious award on July 29 (Friday) from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for Best Practices for Local Government Unit category for the exemplary performance of the QC Anti-Drug Abuse Council (QCADAAC) chaired by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.
QCADAAC has been selected as the best anti-drug abuse council among LGUs in the country due to its outstanding accomplishments and performance in eradicating illegal drugs in the city through a prevention and control strategy.
As this developed, Dr. Roderic Dumas, director of the council, has vowed to be more active and vigilant in addressing the city’s drug problem through a concerted effort by different groups and organizations, including public and private schools.
Earlier, Mayor Herbert M. Bautista and Vice Mayor Belmonte led a QCADAAC school summit dubbed as “Drug Abuse Prevention…A Shared Responsibility,” which enlisted the support of school administrators, guidance counselors and security officers of public and private schools in the city’s continuing drive against drug abuse.
Vice Mayor Belmonte strongly believed that there is a need for a strong preventive education program in city schools to effectively address the illegal drug problem and help secure a better future for the city’s youth.
Belmonte is targeting a decrease in reported drug abuse cases being referred to QCADAAC. For the period 2002 to 2010, cases reported to the council reached a total of 5,000 and involved young people within the age range of 12 to 17. Most of them were from District II.
QCADAAC had earlier launched its 2011 Action Plan which includes a proposed drug supply reduction strategy and assistance package for law enforcers who will be given vital functions in the total dismantling of all drug syndicates, including their financiers and cohorts in the city.
The council is also planning to conduct random drug testing among barangay officials including barangay tanods and city hall employees. Maureen Quiñones, PAISO
