DAVAO ORIENTAL – With the government’s bid to address the country’s alarming drug menace and the looming threats of terrorism, the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) through its Regional Mobile Force Battalion 11 (RMFB11) and Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office (DOPPO) launched a program touted to empower the youth sector for the said cause through information, education and communication.

With the theme “Batang Bagani, Bagong Bayani”, the “Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo” or KKDAT was successfully launched at the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) Gymnasium on March 11, 2019.

DOPPO Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Marcial Mariano P. Magistrado IV said that the KKDAT is a mobilization and information program initiated to empower the youth sector through community and school-based activities that would encourage more members of the youth sector to participate in the fight against illegal drugs and terrorism.

The said anti-drug and anti-terrorism campaign program was launched in partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Mati, City Government of Mati, Provincial Government of Davao Oriental together with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DOSCST, and Department of Education (DepEd).

On his message conveyed by Police Senior Superintendent Eden T. Ugale, Philippine National Police 11 Deputy Regional Director for Operations, Police Brigadier General Marcelo C. Morales, PNP 11 Regional Director stressed the important roles of the youth in addressing illegal drugs and terrorism problems of today’s society as they are also vulnerable to the reach of drug syndicates and terrorist organizations.

Attended by hundreds students and teachers, the launching ceremony was also graced by Engr. Joel A. Capalit, City Administrator of Mati, Mr. Art Benjie C. Bulaong, Provincial Administrator and Action Officer of Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Council, Police Superintendent Maximo Sebastian Jr., Commanding Officer of RMFB 11, Mr. Yon P. Maybuena, Action Officer of Mati City Anti-drug Abuse Council, Hon. Xander Paul Alcantara, City Councilor of Mati, Hon. Al Matthew C. Batingana, SK Federation President of Mati City, Department of Education City of Mati Schools Division, Mati City Social Welfare and Development Office, and PDEA to name a few.

Mr. Bulaong lauded the initiative of PRO 11 through RMFB 11 and DOPPO in launching the program specifically intended for the youth of the province.

“Today, I realize that if only this program was launched long before, we might not have 8,686 drug reformists from all over the province,” he said as he recalled his personal encounter with drug users before while he was still a youth leader in his community.

He also cited the laudable efforts of the Duterte administration against Illegal-drugs backed by the multi-stakeholders’ efforts on the ground initiated by the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang.

“Because of our stakeholders, only Davao Oriental passed the Golden Performance Audit done by the Dangerous Drugs Board and Department of the Interior and Local Government out of 82 provinces in the Philippines,” Mr. Bulaong said.

The PADAC Action Officer also highlighted the organization of New Leaders for Development – Youth (NLD-Youth) under the LIHOK: Nagkahiusang Lumolupyo kontra-Droga (LIHOK:NLD) program of the council that was launched September 2018, as similar to KKDAT’s mission.

“The Youth Sector is considered as the main victim of Drug Abuse in Davao Oriental. NLD Youth or the New Leaders for Development are the Youth is a component program of LIHOK NLD that educates and empowers subsectors of the Youth in the province and mitigates the increasing number of person who uses drugs,” Mr. Bulaong said.

The KKDAT launching ceremony ended with a pledge of commitment inducted by Mr. Nelito Alfonso, DOSCST – Supreme Students Government President and Hon. Batingana followed by commitment signing.