The training, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS2) Project, aims to strengthen DepED’s National Drug Education Program pursuant to Section 43 of Article IV of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, particularly for EQuALLS2-supported public elementary schools in conflict areas in Mindanao.

Speakers and trainers from DepED, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) gave an orientation on the nature and ill-effects of drug abuse, explained the responsibilities of school heads, teachers, guidance counselors, and health personnel in drug abuse prevention in schools, and discussed the integration of drug abuse prevention messages in the basic education curriculum. USAID also turned over to the three government agencies copies of the DepED-developed training modules and the DDB-developed flyers that it helped reproduce.

“We hope educators will find a new sense of commitment to this campaign,” said DDB vice chairman and board member Undersecretary Rommel Garcia. He said school heads and teachers have an important role to play in the country’s fight against drug abuse.

Based on a household survey in 2008 by DDB and the Department of Interior and Local Government, there are about 1.7 million drug users in the country. Drugs that are commonly abused include methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), cannabis (marijuana, brownies, seeds, and hashish), and inhalants (contact cement).

The training was only one of several campaign strategies of DepED and DDB to reduce drug addiction in schools and the workplace. Its other strategies include the institutionalization of random drug testing in secondary and tertiary schools, a drug-free workplace program, a family drug abuse prevention program, Barkada Kontra Droga (peer group against drugs), a national youth congress on drug abuse prevention education, and a capability-building program.

DepED and USAID will hold similar trainings for EQuALLS2-supported schools in the cities of Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cotabato, and General Santos throughout August and September.

USAID’s EQuALLS2 Project is helping DepED improve access to quality basic education in conflict areas in Mindanao by strengthening teaching capacity in English, science, and math, engaging communities in local education improvement, and offering out-of-school children and youth alternative learning and livelihood skills training.

(L-R) Eugene Penales of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Tess Pineda and Undersecretary Rommel Garcia of the Dangerous Drugs Board, receive reproduced copies of the Department of Education’s drug abuse prevention training modules and DDB flyers from Mirshariff Tillah of USAID.