The People’s Volunteer Against Illegal Drugs (PVAID) in collaboration with Manila’s Anti-Drug Abuse Office (MADAO) on Saturday launched a civic awareness and response mechanism designed to reduce drug dependence in various communities in the city.
The project was formally launched at the San Andres quadrangle with Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and retired Col. Rodrigo Bonifacio of PVAID. The affair also signaled the forging of a strong partnership between the city government and PVAID towards the realization of shared aspirations to ultimately stamp out illegal drugs in the city.
Close to 10,000 people attended the event, marked by raucous demands for fight the drugs menace.
The partnership will give every barangay in Manila the basic information, health tools, and resources to boost the people’s capability combat drug abuse and eventually weed out illegal drugs in the city.
The initiative was carried out under the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan,” (BIDA), a flagship program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. which serves as a rallying point of “ protecting lives away from the drug menace.”
“The entire initiatives comprehend the promotion of effective law enforcement, preventive education and treatment and rehabilitation, social development, civic awareness and response, and alliance of the different progressive groups supporting the call for drug abuse prevention and control,” Bonifacio explained.
Both entities are set to formulate strategic planning to realize the three years plan of action for the City of Manila covering six districts that aims to have a drug-free and peaceful community.
It also envisions to conduct training among trainors that will provide force multiplier effect in all barangays under the city.