SUPPORT THE YOUTH IN FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS--POE

Various programs for the youth should be strengthened to help them in the fight against illegal drugs, Senator Grace Poe said Tuesday.

Poe said the youth and their families are most affected by the illegal drugs problem in the country.

"Napakahalaga na bigyan ng suporta ang mga sektor na sumusuporta sa ating mga kabataan," said Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs during a public hearing on drug-related measures.

She added that the illegal drugs problem steal away the Filipino youth's dreams for a better nation.

"Hindi po tayo maaaring umupo na lamang sa ating mga opisina sapagkat isang napaka-seryosong problema ang ilegal na droga - buhay at kinabukasan lalo na ng ating kabataan, na tinaguriang pag-asa ng bayan ang pinaka-sinisira nito," said Poe.

"We also need to consider alternative ways to combat drug abuse and addiction such as awareness campaigns in schools to prevent the youth from even considering trying drugs," Poe said.

Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr., Director-General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, told the committee that there were 1.3 million users of illegal drugs as of 2012.

Cacdac said more than 13,000 illegal drug "pushers" had been arrested last year. For the first six months of 2015, PDEA said more than 9,000 "pushers" had been arrested.

It was revealed during the public hearing that about 90 percent of barangays in Metro Manila is affected by illegal drugs, according to Martin Diño, chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, calling the problem of illegal drugs as serious.