Pubdate: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines) Contact: http://www.mb.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906 Author: Rico Navarro ARROYO LEADS ANTI-DRUGS CONGRESS ON TUESDAY IN QC In a move to further intensify the campaign against illegal drugs in the metropolis, President Gloria Arroyo leads the officers and members of more than 1,000 Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs) of 17 cities and towns, and 1,693 barangays of Metro Manila in a congress on Tuesday,Oct. 28, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced recently. Interior and Local Government Secretary and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Jose Lina said the congress is expected to be attended by all officers and members of the ADAC in Metro Manila numbering more than 17,000, Metro Manila city and municipal mayors, barangay chairmen, and top officials of the DILG, DDB, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Philippine National Police (PNP). President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whose administration's top priority agenda is the campaign against illegal drugs, is the guest of honor and speaker of the one-day affair. Lina said one of the objectives of the congress is to mobilize all Metro Manila anti-drug abuse councils in the all-out war against illegal drugs in the metropolis. He said the council could be of great help to the PNP and the PDEA in monitoring illegal drug operations on the barangay level, adding it can tip off police or law enforcement agencies about the existence of a shabu laboratory, or provide law enforcers information on suspected drug dealers, pushers or even users in a community. "More important, considering that members of the anti-drug council come from the various sectors of the community including the church, it could be an effective vehicle in the conduct of a massive education and information campaign on the ill effect of illegal drugs," Lina said. (Rico Navarro) - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens