ASEAN Training Center
Welcome to ATCPDE
Dreams are the bases of reality. The goal for a drug-free ASEAN could have started as a dream. But it is dream which when worked on can become reality. This is the goal of the ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education (ATCPDE).
Now housed in the main building of the College of Education of the University of the Philippines, the ATCPDE has repackaged its programs to better suit the current scenario in preventive drug education at the same time acknowledging the current financial constraints that face the member countries.
The ATCPDE has finally implemented the Web Site project inspite of the lack of funding. Proposed some eight years ago, this was deferred so many times. But now it is a reality. The ASEAN Web Site is expected to be the hub of the activities, programs and activities on preventive education which are implemented by the member countries. But inputs from you are crucial. We expect information from your end the soonest time possible to update the Web Site.
ATCPDE has also started on researches which at the moment are national in scope but which we hope will be taken up by the other member countries. The research framework can be shared with member countries who want to embark on a similar endeavor.
ATCPDE has also prepared training programs which, like the research, will be tried out on a national level but which can be shared with the members. Training can be conducted at the Center or in house with a small core of mobile training team who can go around the member countries. This modality will turn out to be more cost efficient since travel and accommodation expenses can be minimized and more participants can be trained.
Modules have been prepared for these training packages:
- Preventive drug education at the workplace
- Community based preventive drug education
- Development of a Web Site on Preventive Drug Education
Similarly, the Center has embarked on a research on "State of the Art on Preventive Drug Education" and "Best Practices on Preventive Drug Education."
Since collaboration is the mode of all our programs, all member countries can link for the training programs or for the researches which have started.
The ATCPDE is optimistic that more will join in and we can, once again, establish stronger linkages and implement collaborative programs.
FOUNDED: November 30, 1979
Also referred to as ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education (ATCPDE). A multi-disciplinary organization consisting of different government agencies in the Philippines and expertise in the field of education at the College of Education, University of the Philippines.
STRUCTURE:
Director, ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD), Drug Education Committee, Executive Secretary, Administrative Assistant, Research Assistant, Departments (4): Training Programs and Staff Development; Research and Development; Development and Production of Instructional Materials; Technical Assistance
AIMS of ATCPDE:
Coordinate long-range plan in the field of preventive education of respective countries; Assist in organizing and developing effective preventive drug education program in school/communities in ASEAN Countries;
ACTIVITIES:
Attends the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters Meeting annually; Participates in International Conferences; Conducts regular monthly meetings with Drug Education Committee; Conducts Research to assess training programs, new approaches, and instructional materials; Plans and implements orientation programs in preventive drug education for school administrators; Carries out training programs for program managers, teachers and other educational personnel; Plans and implements orientation programs for community-based leaders; Organizes modular training on drug abuse prevention for teacher, parents, counselor and health personnel; Organizes seminars and workshops.
Our Mission
To promote and protect the well-being of children and youth from the onslaught of drugs through vigorous and unified preventive drug education program. These programs aim to enhance the quality of life of all children and youth, and the people who serve them by preventing, detecting, addressing, and resolving drug-related problems. These programs make use of a balanced approach in unifying the efforts of law enforcement, research, treatment, and rehabilitation with primary focus in preventive education.
Our Vision
Unified Action for a Drug-Free ASEAN
Attainment of a drug-free ASEAN requires an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach that coordinates multiple programs and strategies in collaboration with the families, students, community members, and decision and policy makers in the program planning process. With great focus on prevention, the planning process should consider primarily priority behaviors that contribute to health, safety, and well-being of students, staff, and families, as well as assess supportive and healthful environment that nurture decision-making skills and values for life.
The History
The ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education (ATCPDE) is a product of a long standing collaboration among member countries who have mutually agreed to accelerate drug abuse prevention and control through education in the ASEAN region.
The Center became a reality during the Fourth Meeting of the ASEAN Drug Experts held on November 26-30, 1979 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), selecting the Philippines as the site of the ATCPDE.
The choice of the appropriate site for the Center was formalized after Dr. Enrique M. Garcia, then Health Secretary and Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) recommended on July 28, 1980 to former Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Education as the venue for the Center. This recommendation was acknowledged by UP President Emmanuel Soriano, during the 933rd meeting of the UP Board of Regents held on October 30, 1980.
In addition to the ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding adopted and approved by the five-member ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand), a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Dangerous Drugs Board and the University of the Philippines, defining working relationship, was drawn up.
The salient points of the MOA were:
- UP Shall provide the venue and the expertise, and the DDB shall forward to the Center projects approved by the ASEAN Standing Committee and allocate funds for the Center's operating budget;
- The Director of the ASEAN Training Center shall be appointed by the DDB upon the recommendation of the University and shall serve as the over-all administrator of the various activities of the ASEAN Training Center;
- The Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the DDB upon recommendation of the Director of the Center through the University to assist the Director in the implementation of the project and activities of the Center;
- The Center has a Drug Education Committee composed of technical experts from the DDB; Department of Education; Philippine Information Agency; Department of Social Welfare and Development; and UP who work as a team in planning, implementing, and evaluating the projects/programs of the ASEAN Training Center.
From then on, the Center has conducted projects/programs and related activities in preventive drug education for ASEAN and some Asian countries in close collaboration with the DDB, the primary governing and policy-making body on matters pertaining to drugs in the country.
Other Information
Organization
Under the organizational structure of the ATCPDE, the Director serves as the over-all administrator and coordinator of the ASEAN Training Center. The Governing Board drawn from member countries (at present composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) serves as an advisory and coordinating body. One representative from each ASEAN member country who is an expert in preventive drug education constitute the Governing Board of the Center.
Members of the Governing Board convene annually and its recommendation are taken up at the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drugs (ASOD) meeting.
An Implementing Committee (Drug Education Committee or DEC) composed of members from the Dangerous Drugs Board; the College of Education, University of the Philippines; Department of Education, Culture, and Sports; Department of Social Welfare and Development; and the Philippine Information Agency, plus an Executive Secretary assist the Director in carrying out its five-fold functions, namely: training, research, production of instructional materials, technical assistance, and special projects and activities. It maintains a panel of experts in the following areas: training, research and evaluation, skill building, networking, curriculum design, development of instructional materials, school and community-based drug prevention programs, among others.
Objectives
In order to accelerate world-wide efforts in drug abuse prevention and control, the Center has the following objectives:
- Formulate, coordinate, and implement long-range planning of activities on preventive drug education for schools and communities in ASEAN member countries
- Assist in the organization and development of an effective and comprehensive drug education program which are school and community-based
- Conduct continuing research and evaluation in assessing training programs, approaches and content, instructional materials, etc.
- Conduct trainings, seminars, workshops, conferences, scientific lectures in preventive drug education for specific target groups like educators, program managers, curriculum designers, media practitioners, law enforcers, and community-based leaders, among others
- Develop, validate, and produce instructional materials and evaluation instruments for drug abuse prevention education programs
Members
Organizations in 10 countries:
ASIA: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Individuals in 17 Countries:
AFRICA: Ethiopia, Nigeria; AMERICA: Canada, USA; ASIA: Japan, Jordan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam; AUSTRALIA/PACIFIC: Kiribati; EUROPE: Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, UK.
Linkages
The Center is working closely with various agencies both in the local and international levels. It acknowledges suport from the following agencies:
- Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through the Office of ASEAN Affairs. This provides continuous link between the Foreign Ministries of ASEAN Member Countries and the Center through the DDB as an implementing body of the government.
- Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). The Board provides the leadership, financial, and technical assistance in program development and implementation.
- Department of Education (DepEd). This office provides endorsement on the framework of the National Drug Education Program (NDEP) as the Center's program.
- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This agency shares its expertise in program development.
- Department of Health (DOH) holds the over-all technical authority on health as it is a national health policy-maker and regulatory institution. Together with its attached agencies, the DOH performs its roles to continuously improve the country’s health care system.
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED) oversees the chartered state universities and colleges nationwide in order to "achieve a more coordinated and integrated system of higher education."
- Philippine Information Agency (PIA). This agency shares its expertise in the production and development of instructional, education, and communication materials.
- Republic of Indonesia. This government supported the Center in the training of their officials in drug abuse prevention, information, education, and counseling.
- United States of America (USA). This government extended support in curriculum development workshops.
- Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency. It supported the ASEAN Study-Observation Program.
- Colombo Plan Bureau Drug Advisory Program. It supported the Center during the workshop on the Development of a Manual for Drug Abuse Prevention Program.
- Commission on the European Communities, now European Union. It provided technical and financial support on the three-year project on the Development and Validation of Evaluation Instruments for Drug Abuse Prevention Education (DAPE) Programs.
- United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It supported the Center in the research on Evaluation Study on Preventive Drug Education Programs in the Asian region.
- International Center for Drug Abuse Prevention in Schools (ICDAPS) made possible the conduct of the research in the Asian region.
- Metrobank Foundation. This foundation supported the development and validation of training modules for parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and health workers - the Philippine centennial project of the ATCPDE.
- Inter-Agency Committee (IAC). This is a conglomeration of government offices (Gos) and non-government offices (NGOs) working in collaboration with the Dangerous Drugs Board. This is an advisory body of the Preventive Education Training and Information Division (PETID) of the DDB. It is composed of 85 agencies metro-wide aimed at drug abuse prevention and control.