After President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s issuance of Executive Order No. 66, Series of 2018 institutionalizing the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS), the Dangerous Drugs Board commits to sustain the implementation of the identified supply and demand reduction priorities to address the country’s drug problem.
As of November 2019, the accomplishments of the PADS through the different agencies and their initiatives are made public through the PADS Implementation Report, highlighting the whole-of-nation approach on drug abuse prevention and control. In this report, 54 government agencies have submitted their action plans and commitments in line with their mandates and for the benefit of their stakeholders.
Here are some of the highlights from the 2019 PADS Implementation Report:
POLICIES FORMULATED
The Dangerous Drugs Board and its partner agencies have successfully drafted and issued seven (7) Board Regulations in response to the current drug abuse situation;
PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS
- Three (3) workshops for the implementation and operational plan on the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy were convened;
- Eleven (11) orientation workshops were held to discuss capacity-building programs for inter-agency support under the PADS;
- Fifteen (15) seminars for the localization of the PADS for LCEs and LGUs were conducted;
- Seven (7) workshops for strengthening the internal operations on the implementation of PADS were initiated;
- A comprehensive national communication plan for the PADS was developed; and
- A PADS Agency Reporting and Monitoring System (PADS-ARMS) was developed to provide a reporting mechanism and ensure compliance with concerned agencies.
ENSURING CONTINUITY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AMID THE PANDEMIC
To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect its personnel, the DDB adhered to the government’s stay-home order during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). The DDB adopted a work-from-home strategy and made use of available online platforms to continue to provide services to clients and stakeholders. Some of the measures undertaken include the following:
- Online application for certification for non-controlled chemicals and exemptions for chemical mixtures, finished products and preparations containing controlled precursors and essential chemicals;
- Use of electronic prescription for dangerous drugs during the duration of the State of Calamity pursuant to Proclamation No. 929 of the Office of the President;
- Virtual board meetings;
- Preventive Drug Education webinars and advocacy programs; and
- Taking part in the efforts of the whole government in addressing COVID-19.
WAYS FORWARD
To ensure continuity and sustainability, address issues and supplement deficiencies, the following continuing implementation initiatives were proposed:
Continuing implementation of the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy
- Workshop on the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy – Agency Reporting and Monitoring System Tools with all the tasked agencies.
- Development of the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Requirements for the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy.
- Software Development for the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy – Agency Reporting and Monitoring System.
- Pilot implementation of the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy – Agency Reporting and Monitoring System.
- Continuing the conduct of capacity building programs for different sectors in support of the anti-drug campaign.
- Continuing the conduct of training workshops with key identified sectors on the implementation of the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy.
Continuing development of information, education and communication materials on the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy
- Consultation workshops on the development of video modules for the following related priorities on the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy:
- Drug-free workplace Program
- Localization of the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy
- Community-based Rehabilitation Program
- Consultation workshops on the development of information materials and primers for
- Drug-free workplace Program
- Localization of the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy
- Community-based Rehabilitation Program
Continuing the implementation of the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy Comprehensive Communication Plan
- Consultation workshops on the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy Comprehensive National Communication Plan for law enforcement agencies.
- Consultation workshops on the Philippine Anti-illegal Drugs Strategy Comprehensive National Communication Plan for other tasked agencies.