Different Sectors Launch “PASAY KONTRA DROGA” Program

(Thousands Commit to Fight Use of Illegal Drugs and Substance Abuse)

Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Chairman and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, together with the different sectors of the City, today launched the “Pasay Kontra Droga” Anti-Drug Abuse Program to address one of the most pressing concerns of Metro Manila.

Pasay City is piloting the “Pasay Kontra Droga” Program which is being launched under the DILG’s “Kayang-Kaya kung Sama-Sama” Anti Drug Abuse Campaign for the documentation and replication by the 16 other Cities in Metro Manila.

Mayor Calixto said that “Pasay was the National Champion in the National Literacy Award in the Highly Urbanized Category 2014 of the DepEd. We are on the right track in terms of education, health, good governance, infrastructure and other basic services. What you know before of Pasay as the ‘Sin City” is now the only ‘Travel City’ of the Philippines”.

“But a lot more has yet to be done to address the problem that causes more than 70% of heinous crimes reported in the country --- illegal drug use and substance abuse. I can not do it alone. Nor the Police and Barangays alone. This must be a conscious and concerted effort by all sectors of the City to curb, and ultimately stop, the use of illegal drugs” Calixto stressed.

As Chairman of the RPOC-NCR, Mayor Calixto has committed to revitalizing the anti-drug use campaign and committed to rally the 16 Mayors of Metro Manila. He was appointed as the second Chairman of the Council by President Benigno Aquino III next to former Caloocan Mayor Echeverri.

Launching the “Pasay Kontra Droga” Program are: the 201 Barangay Chairmen and almost 3,000 Barangay officials and some 3,000 elementary, high school, college students as well as youth leaders together with from the different schools and universities of Pasay.

The Campaign is also joined by 200 transport leaders and members; some 3,000 employees of the City Government; and church members.

Integral to the success of any campaign is the involvement of the Private and Sector. Major Locator-Corporations in the City and their personnel expressing their full support to “Pasay Kontra Droga” include Air Asia, Meralco SM Malls, Smart Communication, the Resorts World, San Miguel Corporation, the Midas Hotel and the Manila Broadcasting Corporation.

The Manila Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) pledged support “Pasay Kontra Droga” through the number 1 FM radio station in the country, 90.7 Love Radio, and its AM  counterpart DZRH together with its provincial radio stations airing in key cities of the country.

“We are all stakeholders in the fight against the use of illegal drugs. We all have a part to play in this major problem that challenges our community day and night,” Calixto said.