Participation of the Family, Students, Teachers and School Authorities in the Enforcement of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002

Republic Act 9165, the country’s anti drugs law is entitled “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”, the very reason is because it is comprehensive and does not only focus on supply reduction.

Under Article IV, the opening proviso is Section 41 which is: Involvement of the Family. It states that “The family being the basic unit of the Filipino society shall be primarily responsible for the education and awareness of the members of the family on the ill effects of dangerous drugs and close monitoring of family members who may be susceptible to drug abuse.”

In pursuance of the enforcement of the vision, the law provides that that there shall be a “Family Drug Abuse Prevention Program”. The program is a community based program of preparing families to protect their members against the adverse effects of drug abuse.

What is the objective of the program:

“To raise awareness and educate families on the ill effects of drug abuse; To equip the families with parenting and life skills towards a drug-free home and To organize and mobilize families to consolidate efforts in support of the program and of families at risk.”

The law also mandates that all elementary, secondary and tertiary student council and school organizations shall include in their activities a program for the prevention and deterrence in the use of dangerous drugs.

It is also worth noting, that, Heads, Supervisors and Teachers of Schools shall be deemed persons in authority as far as the enforcement of the law, shall be empowered to apprehend, arrest or cause to apprehend any person who violates any of the provisions of Republic Act 9165.

The law also mandates the creation of Special Drug Education Center for every province. There are many mandates of the anti drugs law, however majority of these remains unfulfilled. The simple reason is that the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development which are the focal departments are not serious in fulfilling its mission.

That instead of giving priority on its mandate by the anti drugs law, the DSWD is so busy collecting donations from other countries and even up to now has failed to liquidate the donations of the victims of Yolanda. On the other hand, the Secretary of DILG is so busy politicking and so stupid in conducting fakes public relations activities.

Again, let us remember that we are on our own in this fight against illegal drugs, let us therefore do our jobs, let us be the workers to implement the programs laid by the law.

The law has given us the guide and instruction on how to address the drug problem, the only thing we have to do is to ACT and ACT. For the in the end the only way to do a thing, is to ACT and ACT. Let us ACT NOW.

About the Author: Clarence Paul V. Oaminal is a lawyer and author of ‘The Textbook on The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’. He is the Vice-chairman and Undersecretary of the Dangerous Drugs Board and is the current adviser and presiding officer of Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council. He also hosts the local advocacy program ‘Krimen ug Drugas’ in CCTN Channel 47.

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