DDB Policies/Strategic Responses and Accomplishments Policy Formulation
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The Dangerous Drugs Board formulated issuances to implement the various
supply and demand reduction programs provided for under the new law and the
National Anti-Drug Program of Action.

Strategy Concepts of the Board

It has been an internationally accepted strategy to adopt both drug supply
reduction, for drug control, and drug demand reduction, for drug abuse prevention, in
efforts geared towards addressing the growing problem of dangerous drug abuse and
illicit drug trafficking. The concept of drug supply reduction, basically a law enforcement
responsibility, is to bring the drugs away from the public by preventing diversion and
trafficking. It is the principal task of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the
other drug law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-
Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI), Reaction, Arrest and Interdiction Division, and the Bureau of Customs Task
Groups Forces on Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals. On the other hand, drug
demand reduction revolves around the concept of bringing the public away from drugs
by generating awareness and consciousness on the evils of drug abuse. This is an
integrated function of the DDB, the Department of Health, the Department of Social
Welfare and Development, the National Youth Commission, the Department of the
Interior and Local Government, the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher
Education, and other allied government agencies and NGOs. This twin-balanced
approach is necessary in order to achieve the goal for a drug-free Philippines by 2010
through vigorous advocacy campaigns and market denial operations.

A. The Supply Reduction Initiatives and Accomplishments

Law Enforcement Efforts

The year 2004 was another productive year for the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency and other law enforcement agencies supporting its anti-drug operations. Their
combined efforts produced many successful offenses against drug offenders and
resulted to significant number of persons arrested and quantities of drug seized.
Neutralization of Transnational and Local Drug Groups
For CY 2004, ten (10) transnational drug syndicates were identified to be
operating in the country, out of which, four (4) groups in the list and one (1) unlisted
group were neutralized, having a total of five (5) transnational drug groups rendered
suppressed by drug law enforcers.

In the start of 2004, the number of the local organized drug groups was pegged
to 163. NCR and Region 8 had the highest number of drug groups with 38 and 25
groups, respectively, followed by Region 7 with 18 groups and Region 12 with 14
groups. The region with the lowest number of drug groups was the Cordillera
Administrative Region, while Region 4B has no record of any existing drug group.
Out of the 163 identified local drug groups, 90 were neutralized. In the course of
the relentless efforts of the drug law enforcers, another 83 new drug groups were also
neutralized resulting to a total of 173 local drug groups neutralized for the year.
Drug Personalities Arrested

For the year 2004, government efforts against violators of R.A. 9165 paid off.
Among the regions, Region 4A had the highest number of identified drug personalities
with 6,828 or 25.30% of the estimated number of drug personalities nationwide followed
by NCR with 5,665 or 20.99%, and Region 11 with 3,174 or 11.75%.
.
As a result of drug operations conducted by various drug law enforcement
agencies, a total of 26,633 persons were arrested, broken down as follows:

* 13,876 Users * 26 financiers, and
* 12,016 Pushers * 49 cultivators.
* 666 Possessors

Forty percent (40%) were arrested in Metro Manila, 20% in the Southern Tagalog
or Calabarzon Region, 8% each in Central Luzon and Central Visayas, and the
remaining 24% were arrested in the 13 other regions.

Foreign Nationals Arrested

The roster of arrested drug personalities includes a total of fifty-six (56) foreign
nationals. Like in previous years, Chinese nationals dominated the number of foreigners
arrested, comprising 37.5% of the total figure. Significantly, most of these Chinese
nationals were involved in the manufacture of Shabu.


FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES

1. LAKBAY KONTRA DROGA
In an effort to bring the drug abuse fight to the grassroots level, the
Caravan 2004 Lakbay Kontra Droga project was initialized in Luzon particularly
Regions I, II and V, Visayas and Mindanao. This program was undertaken to
create awareness about the evils of drug abuse.

B.I.2. LAKBAY ARAL KONTRA DROGA

As part of the government’s determined campaign to rid the country of
illegal drugs, the DDB, in cooperation with the DILG, PNP-AIDSOTF, PDEA, DOH,
SK, NYC, PAGCOR and NGOs, staged the Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga to generate
awareness and consciousness among the youth and studentry on the evil effects
of illegal drugs.

It consisted of a guided tour to significant facilities, centers, and
installations held on 21 April 2004 participated in by 500 Sangguniang Kabataan
leaders and barangay chairmen where they learned from visuals and through
interactions, the ill-effects of dangerous drugs.

B. I.3. BARKADA KONTRA DROGA
In an answer to the call of the President of the Philippine Republic for the
conduct of drug clearing operations, the DDB launched the “Barkada Kontra
Droga”. The program is designed as a preventive education and information
strategy to counter the dangers and disastrous effects of drug abuse. It aims to
empower the individual to be the catalyst within his peer groups in advocating
healthy, drug-free lifestyles thru involvement in various wholesome activities.

B.1.3.1. LAUNCHING SEMINARS

a. SCHOOLS/UNIVERSITIES

The DDB launched “Barkada Kontra Droga” in different colleges
and universities nationwide. A total of five thousand nine hundred fifty two
(5,952) students and faculties participated and became members of the
Barkada Kontra Droga.

c. COMMUNITIES

To strengthen the support for “Barkada Kontra Droga”, its launching was also
done in the communities.

d. TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTERS

TRI-MEDIA ACTIVITIES
To effectively disseminate information and create awareness on the
updates on drug abuse prevention and control activities, the Board utilizes the Tri-
Media and organized a press corps as partners in disseminating the information to
the general public.