Press Release
October 19, 2008

INTENSIFIED INFO DRIVE VS ILLEGAL DRUGS PUSHED

Senator Bong Revilla today pressed for an intensified information drive against illegal drugs to further address the drug menace in the country.

Speaking before the law enforcers and various motorbikers clubs during the "Ride for a Cause, Ride for a Drug-free Tarlac" program held today (October 19, Sunday) at the Tarlac Provincial Capitol, Revilla stressed that a strong dissemination campaign is an effective tool to arrest the proliferation of illegal drugs.

According to senator, this is what he realized and immediately implemented when he was the vice governor and chairman of the anti-drug council of Cavite .

"Kailangan ng matinding edukasyon, ang pagpapalawak ng awareness ng mga mamamayan. This is important in drug abuse prevention, dahil, kung walang bibili ng droga, darating ang araw na wala nang maglalako nito," said Revilla, who was awarded by the New York-based Anti-Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association for his relentless campaign against illegal drugs which resulted then to an almost Drug-free Cavite.

Revilla cited a report of the Population Commission, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that revealed that over 3.4 million Filipinos are hooked on drugs and more than half or 1.8 million are youth.

He also pointed out the 2003 study of the World Health Organization (WHO) that bared that 15 to 16 years old are the usual age of Filipinos who experienced illegal drugs for the first time or the so-called "first timers. Out of the 3.4 million drugs users, more than half are 15 to 27 years old. "Makikita natin sa mga statistics na ito, na talagang kabataan ang puntirya ng napakasamang bisyong ito. At huwag kayong magkakamali na mayayaman lang ang nabibiktima. Studies show that drug abuse crosses social classes, mayaman man o mahirap," he explained.

Revilla lauded Tarlac Police Provincial Office Director Senior Superintendent Rudy Lacadin and the Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF) for organizing the "Ride for a Cause, Ride for a Drug-free Tarlac". "Dito mahalaga ang ginagawa natin ngayon, at ang magagawa ng bawat isa sa atin. Itong Bike ride natin ay isang napakagandang paraan para imulat ang mga mamamayan. Ang bawat isa naman sa atin ay pwedeng maging epektibong tagapagsalita at bantay laban sa ipinagbabawal na gamot, at lagi niyong tatandaan, kahit anong mangyari, kasangga ninyo ako rito," the lawmaker said.

After his message, Revilla led thousands of motorcycle riders under the MCPF in a unique anti-drug awareness motorcade cruising around ten municipalities of Tarlac Province.

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