QC to pursue sweeping battle vs drug menace

The Quezon City government warned manufacturers, dealers, financiers, users and protectors of illegal drugs yesterday to end their business in the city, saying the city council has approved an ordinance to keep in check, if not totally eradicate, the drug menace.

The "Comprehensive Anti-Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation Program Ordinance" is expected to give the city government an extra push toward the advancement of the national government’s drug control agenda by waging an unrelenting war against narcotics and prohibited drugs.

The new ordinance also provides for an integrated system of planning, implementation and enforcement of anti-drug abuse policies, programs and activities.

Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista said the city government is looking at the drug problem as primarily a health and social service concern rather than police enforcement and prosecution.

He emphasized that the city government is pushing for the implementation of an all-inclusive anti-drug abuse and rehabilitation program of positive social reintegration of drug dependents through rehabilitative and therapeutic treatment, coupled with skills and capability-building activities.

Bautista added that the endeavor would strengthen the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (QCADAC) to make it more effective in exercising its oversight function over the city’s anti-drug abuse program.

The Quezon City Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (QCDTRC) will also be renovated to make it more accessible and responsive to the needs of drug dependents. Reorganization of both the QCADAC and QCDTRC and their organizational components and staffing pattern is in the works.

A total of P18,558,287 has been earmarked to pay for the salaries, wages and benefits of the QCADAC and QCDTRC staff, including the procurement of supplies, materials and equipment as well as for the maintenance and other operating expenses.

A Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Board (QCADAB) will be formed to act as the policy-making as well as strategy formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug prevention and control.