Makati helps families fight drug menace

The Makati City government recently launched a campaign that will focus on families as a strategy to effectively fight the drug menace.

The Office of the Vice Mayor and the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) staged a grand family gathering at the City Hall grounds with the aim of empowering families in the fight against drugs.

“Families have a big role in the fight against drugs. We have to continuously promote strong and responsible Filipino families that will play an important role in the unified crusade against illegal drug trade and abuse in the metropolis and throughout the country,” Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado said.

Mercado, also MADAC chair and president of the Association of Metro Manila Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, said the family-based program focuses on being a primary tool in harnessing long-treasured Filipino customs and values.

“Through this activity, we hope to generate the strong involvement of families in our crusade because we believe that families should be fortified as the first line of defense that can be mobilized in shielding their respective communities against the clutches of illegal drugs,” Mercado said.

Some 135 families from 27 non-village barangays of the city participated in the program, with a delegation of five families, each composed of six family members, from each barangay. City and barangay officials joined the 180 participants to show their full support.

Participating families attended a lecture on the latest trends in detecting, preventing, treating, and controlling drugs and substance abuse, and emphasizing the important role of the family in the campaign being waged by the government.

Makati officials say they have made very significant gains in the campaign against drugs through a holistic approach, which includes drug prevention education program that covers the family unit and school children, and a comprehensive after-care service through its Handog Kalinga program.

Handog Kalinga was initiated by MADAC to provide job and livelihood opportunities to reformed drug offenders and their families.  – Rhodina Villanueva