DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) -- Over 200 senior high school students in Dumaguete City participated in a series of anti-illegal drugs symposia conducted by the Philippine Information Agency in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). 

Around 100 students from each of the two participating schools, Negros Oriental High School (NOHS) and Dumaguete City National High School (DCNHS), joined the symposia that aimed to educate the students on the dangers of illegal drug use. 

DOH nurse Phoebe Parrocho shared how substance abuse can damage the health, especially of teens and young adults, while PDEA intelligence officer Lovely Ibanez discussed Republic Act 9165, or the  Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

Ibanez said that peer pressure, curiosity, and a lack of awareness of the consequences of drug abuse are some of the reasons why young people fall prey to illegal drugs. 

Participants’ learnings

For Resan Lu-ang, 18, the symposium helped him understand the legal consequences of substance abuse. 

“Akong nakat-unan na dunay dakong kaso o silot na ma-priso kon ikaw masakpan naggamit sa illegal drugs ug magbaligya niini. (I learned that using and selling illegal drugs will put one at risk of imprisonment),” said Lu-ang, a Grade 12 Electrical Installation and Maintenance Track student of NOHS who attended the symposium.  

He said the symposium is a big help in raising awareness among students that drug abuse can destroy their future. 

“Importante kaayo ning drug symposium sa kada eskwelahan para ma aware ming mga kabatan-onan labi na sa mga estudyante sama kanamo kay naay tendency na kon usa ka estudyante mogamit niining gidili na droga, dili makalampus sa ilng pageskwela. (This symposium is very important so that the youth will become aware that using prohibited drugs can be the reason why they won’t be able to graduate),” he added. 

Another participant, Kenneth Torres, 18, said he learned about the negative impact of illegal drug use on the family. 

“Ang illegal drugs mao ni makaguba sa relasyon sa familya ug sa atung kaugmaon labi na sa mga kabataan (Illegal drugs will destroy family relationships and our future),” said Torres, a Grade 11 Technical-Vocational-Livelihood Track student of NOHS. 

 “Ang  ginadili na drogas kay makadaot sa atung lawas, makahatag ug sakit busa magtarong ta sa atung pag eskwela aron magmalampuson. (Illegal drugs are bad for our health. That’s why we should focus on our studies instead, so we will be successful one day),” he added.

Safe, healthy choices 

Alden Rabina, DCNHS principal, reminded the students to make safe and healthy choices for their future and stay away from illegal drugs. 

Rabina thanked the PIA, PDEA, and DOH for holding the anti-drug campaign in their school to help prevent their students from getting involved in illicit activities. 

“This activity will serve as a crucial step in the campaign as it aims to educate students on the ill-effects of drugs and safeguard them from using it,” said Rabina. 

The school symposium is one of the advocacy activities conducted by PIA as the head of the information, education, and communication committee of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)