Hundreds march in Cebu City for ‘Independence Day’ vs illegal drugs

Policemen, firemen, students, local government officials and motorcycle-for-hire drivers were among the hundreds of people who joined a march from Fuente Osmeña to the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday to launch the first-ever “Independence Day” celebration against illegal drugs in Cebu. The event also marked the start of Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Month. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

AROUND 3,000 people took to the streets in Cebu City Saturday to mark Cebu’s first-ever Independence Day Against Illegal Drugs.

Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Local Government Units (LGUs), the youth, and motorcycle-for-hire drivers marched from Fuente Osmeña Circle to the Cebu City Sports Center, along Osmeña Boulevard, even as it drizzled in the afternoon.

The event, which also kicked-off the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Month celebration, was meant to gather support from all barangays in the city for the Duterte administration’s all-out war against illegal drugs.

Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) head Dr. Alice Utlang said that with the theme “Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe,” the city will zero in on influencing the youth to prevent them from using illegal drugs.

Based on records of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Office (CPADAO) presented by its chief, Carmen Durano-Meca, all towns and cities of Cebu alarmingly have minor drug surrenderers.

Records further showed that the youngest drug dependent listed in the province was 9 years old while those aged 14 to 22 were more vulnerable to illegal drug use as teenagers were more adventurous and  exploratory.

A series of seminars to teach families about the importance of listening to their children and deeply knowing their needs to prevent them from using illegal drugs use will be conducted by Cosap during the month-long celebration; along with a series of recreational activities like Zumba and tree-planting activities for all drug surrenderers in Cebu City.

Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac) chairman Clarence Paul Oaminal later led the participants in a pledge of commitment to help in the drive against illegal drugs.