The University of the Philippines ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education (UP ATCPDE) conducted the ASEAN Conference on Models and Best Practices in Preventive Drug Education on July 15-17, 2009 at the UP National Institute of Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP NISMED) at the UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City.
Three ASEAN countries joined this conference: the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, and Malaysia. The Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board Chair Hon. Vicente Sotto III delivered his keynote address during the opening ceremonies on July 15, 2009. Representing Brunei Darussalam, Mr. Osmawi Haji Osman of the Narcotics Control Bureau spoke about the Mosque Youth Antidrug Camps. Meanwhile, Mr. Mahadhir bin Elias, Director of the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) Training Centre of Malaysia, presented the topic Community-Based Drug Prevention Education - The Malaysian Experience.
Majority of the plenary speakers are Filipino professionals in the academe, various local government units, and non-government organizations. National Drug Education Program (NDEP) coordinators, school health personnel, members of anti-drug abuse councils, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) officers and staff, and health educators numbering about 122 attended the conference.
Participants to the conference spent the afternoon of July 16, 2009 on a field trip with the following itinerary: PDEA, Fort Santiago, and Mall of Asia (MOA). At the PDEA building, participants viewed various illegal drugs on exhibit as well as the drug paraphernalia and facilities confiscated through search and seizure operations. Fort Santiago offered the participants a glimpse of history through exhibits of Rizal's writings, personal belongings, and his replica in prison. Participants ended up at MOA to shop and dine with co-participants.
This year's conference was organized by the Drug Education Committee Members and Consultants of ATCPDE who are from the UP College of Education (UP CEd), UP National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP NISMED), UP Integrated School (UPIS), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
By:
Dr. Rosanelia T. Yangco
UP College of Education
