With the support of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the City Anti-illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force is giving special attention to the conduct of information education campaign as a measure to address the city’s drug problem.

S/Insp. Dino Cogasi said informing the different sectors of the community, especially the students, of the ill effects illegal drugs use will help prevent the youth from engaging in illegal drug activities.

He said it is in knowing that the youth will be protected and will not be swayed into the activity.

Cogasi said with the law exempting minors from criminal liability, a number of minors are being used by those in the drug trade in the delivery and supply of drugs to clients.

In 2011, the officer said they have conducted 31 education campaigns in the different schools and barangays in the city. For the first quarter of 2012, there have been 27 IEC activities conducted.

“The Baguio City Police is directed to prevent and suppress the proliferation of illegal drugs being peddled on the streets by drug pushers. This effort is complimented with the massive information campaign to educate people of our communities and increase their awareness on the adverse effects of drug abuse on a person’s hysical, mental, and social well-being,” Cogasi said.

With this, he said they hope to pull down the demand for illegal substance in the drug market, which they conduct in coordination with the City Anti-drug Abuse Council, the PDEA, Regional Anti-illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group and the barangay anti-drug abuse councils.

The officer added they have arrested a total of 56 individuals engaged in the illegal drug trade last year and 39 during this year’s first quarter.

A total of P214,462 worth of illegal drugs have also been confiscated last year and P66,069 from January to June of this year.

Cogasi assured the police are doing their best in addressing the problem by not just arresting drug personalities but also by making the community aware of the drug problem through IEC.

“Addressing the drug problem is not just a task of the police and the other law enforcement officers but also of the families especially parents who must assure their family members are not hooked to drugs as users or pushers,” Cogasi said.