PDEA holds drug symposium for Tarlac elem students

By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu

Wednesday 18th of July 2012

VICTORIA, Tarlac, July 18 (PIA) -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in partnership with Supreme Prosecutor’s Office of South Korea and Philippine Information Agency (PIA), on Tuesday held a drug awareness symposium for 1,000 public elementary students in Victoria town, Tarlac, the first outside Metro Manila.

PDEA director-general Jose Gutierrez said in an interview, “The symposium was meant to instill in the minds of children, who are in grades 5 and 6, the ill-effects of prohibited drugs and to say no to being couriers of such dangerous substances.”

Gutierrez said, “We decided to go down to the elementary level as we have noticed in the last three years that drug lords and pushers are exploiting children as young as 10 years old in their drug-related activities for they have no criminal liability as they are simply turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.”

The PIA’s Creative and Production Services Division (CPSD) gave a puppet show, which served as a highlight of the event.

Bradley De Leon of PIA said, “Our puppet show imparted to the kids that use of illegal drugs or being courier end their dreams as these substances have never been proven beneficial.”

The puppet show also encourages students to listen to the advice of their parents, as they would not surely let their children in harm’s way.

The symposium is set to tour other key areas around the archipelago including the cities of Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. (WLB/CLJD-PIA3)