A member of the Bacolod City council is pushing for the strengthened implementation of Barkada Kontra Droga (BKD) program in schools amid the alarming reports of illegal drug activities involving students.

In an interview yesterday, Councilor Israel Salanga, who chairs the city council’s committee on social services and development, said there is an urgent need to act on this concern to prevent young people from engaging in illicit drugs, particularly those who are still in school.

“With the situation now that illegal drugs are reported even in school campuses, we should not wait. Prevention is better than cure. At a young age, children need guidance,” he said.

Institutionalized by the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 5, series of 2007, the BKD is an integral component of the National Drug Education Program in schools which provides for a holistic approach to drug abuse problem.

Salanga raised concern over the arrest of a 21-year-old male Grade 11 student, who yielded about 300 grams of shabu worth P2.04 million in a buy-bust at Purok Nami-Nami, Barangay Banago on Sunday, June 21.

Salanga, who was the president of BKD-Bacolod Chapter in his student days, said now that a new school year has just started, he is set to coordinate with the Department of Education Bacolod City Schools Division to discuss anti-drug awareness programs that can be implemented in schools.

“We plan to gather the BKD school chapter presidents for a trainors’ training seminar to bring the advocacy directly to the school campuses,” he said.

Salanga had earlier encouraged parents to let their children join the BKD in their schools and become advocate against illegal drugs.

“Our objective is to strengthen our anti-drug campaign in the school level in partnership with the City of Bacolod under the administration of Mayor Greg Gasataya together with the Department of Social Services and Development, Community Anti-Drug Coalition of Bacolod, Dangerous Drugs Board and Department of Education,” he added. (PNA)