Pantawid parents to undergo anti-drug information drive

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) will hold Information Education Campaign (IEC) to at least 9,821 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries in order to inform them of the ill effects of illegal drugs.

COSAP chief Garry Lao told reporters that it was his idea to expand the scope of their IEC against illegal drugs.

In 2017, COSAP started its information campaign in all schools in the city educating students how harmful illegal drugs to one's health.

"So sila atong gitarget nasad ang parents. Nagtuo man ta nga ang mga ginikanan kinahanglan atong mapasabot unsa'y ill effects sa drugs," Lao said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 has approved COSAP’s request to subject Pantawid beneficiaries to information drive against drugs.

"We are grateful for extending your service to our Pantawid partner beneficiaries as participant to the Information-Education Campaign against illegal drugs to be conducted in identified barangays," the letter from DSWD dated June 8 stated.

The Pantawid is a national program which provides cash grants to the poorest of the poor in order to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0 to 18 years old.

DSWD is the lead government agency that is tasked to implement the program.

Lao said it is important to educate the parents as they are the head of their respective families.

"Kinahanglan man pud ang lig-on nga pondasyon magsugod man sa sulod sa panimalay," he said.

On Tuesday, June 19, beneficiaries from Tagbao and Adlaon will be the first to undergo COSAP’s IEC.

Parents from Guba and Taptap are scheduled on June 22 and June 26 is parents from barangays Cambinocot and Bacayan.

Lao said it was the DSWD that set the schedule.

In a separate interview, Regional Program Director, Racquel Enriquez said they supported this move of COSAP as it will give awareness to the beneficiaries.

"Awareness in its totality and the effects of illegal drugs legally and medically to them," she told The FREEMAN. —/MBG (FREEMAN)