Drug Addiction in the Philippines

With much of the focus on drug use in the United States, many people probably don’t pay much attention to drug
addiction in the Philippines. Why should we? Because it is an ever-increasing problem for the people of that country
and they shouldn’t be ignored. Drug addiction in the Philippines has increased at alarming rates since World War II.
Sadly, the reasons why aren’t clear cut.

Most of the drug users in the Philippines are young people. Illicit drugs that are present include marijuana, LSD,
opiates, and barbiturates. While there are no hard fast statistics available, it is estimated that as many as 60,000
young people in the Philippines are dealing with drug addiction.

Within a period of ten years, the incidence of drug addiction rose dramatically according to studies done in this tiny
country. The majority of drug users are students with marijuana being the drug of choice. Many people believe that
this rise is attributable to simple curiosity, but more likely because Philippine youth are trying to emulate their Western
counterparts here in the United States.

Because so much attention is focused on drug addiction in America, the information is readily available in the
Philippines as are the drugs. This has increased the demand for drugs thus pushing drug dealers to grow their own
cannabis plants, which is illegal in the Philippines. There have been recent reports as well of drugs being
manufactured in illegal laboratories. Local narcotics police have made several raids to try and curb this activity, but of
course, to no avail.

To meet the challenge of the drug abuse problem several measures, both private and governmental, are being taken.
Violators of narcotic laws who make known to the authorities the fact of their addiction and their desire to be cured
are referred to the Addiction Institute of the National Bureau of Investigation so that they may undergo treatment and
rehabilitation.

On another front, a new organization-the Narcotic Foundation of the Philippines-has recently been formed. This is a
private association not related to Government institutions and treatment centers; its aims are to raise funds for the
treatment and reorientation of young addicts, and to educate the public against the dangers of drug addiction. It is to
be hoped that the efforts made by this newly-founded organization, along with the efforts of the Addiction Institute and
other interested bodies, will help the country to eventually cope with the alarming growth in local drug abuse.

Drug addiction in the Philippines is a growing problem, but it is one that the Philippine government is trying to tackle
and take hold of. Just as in the United States, drug addiction is nothing to be taken lightly no matter where it happens
– here or in the Philippines.

In Manila, Death comes by night

Since Duterte took office in late June, more than 6,000 people have been killed in his campaign to purge the
Philippines of illegal drugs and those associated with them, according to reliable estimates by local media. The -
victims—suspected users and pushers—do not enjoy due process, and they are always killed at night, sometimes
inside their own homes. The perpetrators are vigilantes, hired guns and likely cops too.

Duterte made no secret that this would happen. “All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill
you,” he said last April, a month before he was elected. It wasn’t just campaign bluster. For 22 years Duterte had
served as mayor of the southern city of Davao, where he took a pathological approach to restoring order to the city’s
streets. Under his leadership, the extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals and drug users in Davao by vigilantes
was practically state policy. In December, speaking to a group of businesspeople, Duterte admitted to personally
killing a few himself while he was mayor. The reaction of the international community has been one of outrage and
reproach: Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Dec. 20 that Duterte should
be investigated for murder.

Duterte’s fiercest critic is Senator Leila de Lima, a former Secretary of Justice who has attempted to wage a war in
the legislature against a strongman President who she says is actually “rather meek.” Duterte and his allies have
struck back, and de Lima fears impeachment, arrest or worse. But, she says, “Will I stop fighting? Over my dead
body.” —Nash Jenkins/Manila
PAGASA monitoring tropical storm Maria

Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star) - July 6, 2018 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A tropical storm with international name Maria has intensified into a severe tropical storm,
the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

PAGASA said it is monitoring Maria, which was spotted 2,210 kilometers east of the Visayas and later at 2,070 km
east of southern Luzon, outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

“With maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 115 kph, the tropical storm is
expected to move west northwest at 15 kph,” PAGASA said in its 4 p.m. bulletin.

PAGASA said Maria, which will be given the local name Gardo, has no direct effect on any part of the country at the
moment.

Maria is not expected to make landfall over any part of the country but PAGASA weather forecaster Samuel Duran
said it may enhance the southwest monsoon, “which may bring scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rains
over Western Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Mindoro and Palawan in the next 48 hours.”

Residents of these areas, especially those living in low-lying and in mountainous areas, are alerted against possible
flooding and landslides resulting from heavy rains.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain
showers because of localized thunderstorms.

LPA in Cagayan now tropical depression Karding

Rhodina Villanueva (The Philippine Star) - August 8, 2018 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The low-pressure area east of Aparri, Cagayan has developed into a tropical depression and
was named Karding.

At 3 p.m. yesterday, the center of Karding was at 1,215 kilometers east of Calayan in Cagayan, according to the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Packing sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph, Karding is said to
be almost stationary.

image: https://video.unrulymedia.com/native/images/in-art-close-icon-128x128-
16481b937f87b244a645cdbef0d930f8.png

The tropical depression is not expected to make landfall, but it will enhance the southwest monsoon.

No tropical cyclone warning signal has been raised.

Aside from Karding, the state weather bureau is monitoring another low-pressure area west of Subic, Zambales,
which will also enhance the southwest monsoon.

Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Mindoro, Palawan and Zambales as well as Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with
scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.
Challenges Faced by Our Government

In a Business Mirror interview, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones claims that for 2017-2018, the Department created
40,104 teacher items for the K-12 program. However, she also confesses that we still lack teachers and classrooms
to fill in its demands.

K-12 Status Updates under the Duterte Regime

In the same interview, Briones stresses that “additional items will be created throughout the year, depending on the
actual enrollment for SY 2017-2018.” In fact, she says they continue to arrange the hiring of Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) faculty affected by the reform until SY 2021-2022. The interview capped off the latest status of the
K-12 programs: SHS has used 55,680 K-12 classrooms, near completion of the 2014-2015 classroom backlogs, and
registered 51.59% completion rate for the years 2014 through 2016.

Benefits of the K-12 curriculum for Filipino students!

Mariel Uyquiengco

The K-12 curriculum is more than just adding years to your child's schooling. Read this article to know the
benefits of a K-12 education in the Philippines.

A recent change in the Philippines’ educational system was implemented starting in 2011. The K-12 curriculum was
signed into law back in 2013, adding three years to the country’s basic education curriculum.
The new K-12 curriculum guide requires all Filipino students to have one year of kindergarten, six years of
elementary schooling (grades 1 to 6), four years of junior high school (grades 7 to 10), and two years of senior high
school (grades 11 to 12).

The Rationale
The K to 12 curriculum gives students time to master basic academic skills.
Prior to the implementation of the K-12 curriculum guide, the Philippines was one of only three countries in the world
and the only one in Asia that still had only 10 years in basic education.
This has always been seen as a disadvantage for our students who are competing in an increasingly global job
market. The longer educational cycle of the K-12 curriculum is seen as critical in giving Filipino students a higher
quality of education.
Read: 15 brain-boosting food that kids should eat during exam week
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization – Innotech (SEAMEO-Innotech) found the previous 10-year
educational cycle to be congested, with a 12-year curriculum squished into 10 years.
As a result, Filipino students have trailed behind students around the world in the areas of math, languages, and
science. The new curriculum is aimed to fix that.

Go to the next page to know what the K to 12 curriculum means for Filipino students.
The K to 12 curriculum is designed to provide a holistic education for all Filipino students.
The K to 12 curriculum is designed to enable graduates to join the workforce right after high school, and suitably
prepare those who want to go on to higher education.
The new curriculum will also support college graduates seeking work abroad. Developed countries, according to
the Department of Education’s (DepEd) briefer, “view the 10-year education cycle as insufficient.”
All in all, the enhanced K to 12 curriculum is designed to provide a holistic education for all. Now decongested, it will
give students ample time to master basic academic skills as well as to participate in co-curricular and community
activities.
What the K-12 curriculum means for students
The transition began in 2011, when the universal kindergarten was introduced. Starting in 2012, schools already
implemented the curriculum decongestion mentioned in the DepEd briefer.
Public schools began having half-day classes for grade one students, with the mother tongue as the medium of
instruction. Private schools also made adjustments in their own DepEd accredited curricula.
The adaptation of the K to 12 curriculum guide means that students will graduate a bit older compared to those who
graduated under the 10-year education cycle.
Far from being disadvantageous, however, DepEd states that young adults graduating at age 18 or so will be more
prepared to take on their tertiary education.
Go to the next page to know more about the K to 12 curriculum.

Graduates of the K to 12 curriculum will be equipped to join the workforce right away.
Remedial classes during the first year of college will no longer be needed, as the high school curriculum will already
be aligned with the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) guidelines.
The government also encourages parents to think of the K to 12 curriculum guide not as having two extra years of
high school, but as two years less of higher education.
Areas of specialization
Graduates of the new educational system will already be equipped to join the workforce right away. This is through
the help of the electives to be offered during grades 11 to 12.
The electives, or areas of specialization, will include the following:

 Academics for those who wish to pursue higher studies

 Technical-vocational for those who want to acquire employable skills after high school
 Sports and Arts for those who are inclined in the two fields.

SONA 2018: Action items in Duterte’s 2nd SONA

by UNTV News | Posted on Monday, July 23rd, 2018

FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his second state of the nation address (SONA) on July 24, 2017.
On July 24, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). We noted
some of the action items and what the administration has accomplished so far.
“Unrelenting” war on drugs
In his second SONA, President Duterte said that his campaign against illegal drugs will continue and will be
“unrelenting.”
“I have resolved that no matter how long it takes, the fight against illegal drugs will continue because that is the root
cause of so much evil and so much suffering that weakens the social fabric and deters foreign investments from
pouring in. The fight will be unremitting as it will be unrelenting.”
Land Use Act
President Duterte appealed to the lawmakers for the passage of the Land Use Act which aims to institutionalize
mechanisms to evaluate land use to ensure sustainable use of land.
“I am appealing to all our legislators to immediately pass the National Land Use Act or NALUA [applause] to ensure
the rational and sustainable use of our land and our physical resources, given the competing needs of food security,
housing, businesses and environmental conservation.”
An agency to focus on disaster response
President Duterte called on the legislators to craft a law that would establish a department for disaster resiliency and
response.
“I am calling [on] both houses of Congress to expeditiously craft a law establishing a new authority or department that
is responsive to the prevailing 21st century conditions and empowered to best deliver [an] enhanced disaster
resiliency and quick disaster response.”
Passage of Death Penalty bill
The President called on Congress to pass the reimposition of death penalty on drug-related offenses and join him in a
“fight against illegal drugs and all forms of criminality.”
“I therefore ask Congress to act on all pending legislations to reimpose the death penalty on heinous crimes —
especially on the trafficking of illegal drugs.”
Stop irresponsible mining
President Duterte warned “all mining operations and contractors to refrain from the unbridled and irresponsible
destruction of our watersheds, forests, and aquatic resources” and rehabilitate their areas that host their operations or
else, face steeper taxes.
“I am holding all mining companies and its officials responsible for the full and quick clean-up, restoration [and]
rehabilitation of all areas damaged by mining activities, and the extension of all necessary support to the communities
that have suffered mining’s disastrous effects on their health, livelihood, and environment, among others.”

TRO on RH Law
The President asked the Supreme Court to lift its two-year temporary restraining order on contraceptive implants.
“The Supreme Court TRO that prevents the Department of Health from distributing subdermal implants, which will
cause the wastage of P350 million worth of taxpayers’ money. I also note that since its issuance two years ago, this
TRO has impaired the government’s ability to fully implement responsibly family planning and methods and the RH
Law. It is time that we put an end to the practice of some parties of resorting technicalities in our laws, prevent the
government from fulfilling its mandate.”

Implementation of the K-12 program

President Duterte said his administration will continue to support the implementation of the K to 12 program which
aims to expand the basic education system in the country.
“In our bid to accelerate human capital development, we should ensure lifelong opportunities by enhancing quality of
and access to education, training programs. We have sustained investments in higher education and committed to
the full implementation of the K to 12 Basic Foundation Program.”

Return of a national heritage

The President told the U.S. government to return the iconic Balangiga bells which was seized by American soldiers
as war booty in the 1901 in a defeat against the Filipino soldiers.
“That is why I say today; give us back those Balangiga bells. They are ours. They belong to the Philippines.They are
part of our national heritage.”

Passage of a new tax reform law

President Duterte asked the Senators to pass his administration’s first batch of tax reforms, after the Lower House
passed its version of the bill.
“The fate of the tax reform is now in the hands of the Senate…Well really, I leave it up to you. We are all Filipinos. If
you think that’s a waste, fine! If you think, it’s not good, it’s okay with me. I can survive. I call on the Senate so
support my tax reform in full and to pass it without haste.” — Marje Pelayo

Duterte berates over a hundred errant cops on live TV

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte couldn’t contain his anger against a hundred erring policemen
presented to him in Malacañang on Tuesday evening (August 7).
The said cops with ranks ranging from Police Officer (PO1) to chief inspector are members of the National Capital
Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon police offices.
“Wala kayong silbi para sa akin, salot kayo sa lipunan, winawarningan kayo. Kayong mga pamilyang nakikinig
ngayon, … wag tayong magsisihan, pag namatay ito, ***wag kayo pumunta sa amin at magsisigaw kayo ng human
rights, human rights, due process,” Duterte said.
(I have no use for you. You are a scourge on society. I am warning you. To their families who are listening today, do
not blame anyone if they get killed. Do not come to us and shout for “human rights”, “due process.”)
Some of them are facing criminal cases, like kidnap for ransom, alleged rape, robbery-extortion and illegal drug
trading while some are facing administrative complaints.
The cases of the said policemen will be reviewed, but the Chief Executive warned the cops that their actions are
being monitored by a special unit and if they commit even a small mistake, they will receive harsher punishment. –
UNTV News & Rescue

Duterte to send Cabinet members to Libya to rescue abducted OFWs

(L-R) Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan
Peter Cayetano, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Presidential Adviser on OFW
Concern Abdullah Mama-o (courtesy of his FB account)

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to send members of his Cabinet to Libya to help
secure the release of Filipino engineers who were abducted by an armed group.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said the President takes the plight of overseas Filipino workers
very seriously, that is why he is sending his Cabinet members to the North African state to work with the Libyan
government to clarify the demands of the abductors.
He said the President opted to abort earlier plans to send Navy frigates to Libya as a show of force similar to what the
South Korean government did. Among the hostages was a South Korean national.
“He has since considered the advice of the Cabinet to first form a task force to deal with the hostage crisis in Libya,”
Roque said citing the President.
Members of the Cabinet who will be departing to Libya are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano,
Presidential Adviser on OFW Concern Abdullah Mama-o, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abul
Khayr Dangcal Alonto, and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
Reports showed three Filipinos working as technicians at a water plant in southeastern Libya were abducted along
with a South Korean national on July 6.
Several armed groups of Islamist militants or jihadists have a presence in Libya, especially in remote desert areas,
mostly targeting foreign workers and diplomats.
Uprisings and conflicts have been common since the beginning of insurgency when former Libyan dictator Moamer
Kadhafi was ousted from power and killed in 2011. – Marje Pelayo

Duterte threatens to ‘break open’ warehouses of rice hoarders

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte issued a stern warning against rice hoarders if they continue with
their practices.
This was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday
(August 6).
Roque said the President has full knowledge of who the rice hoarders are and where their warehouses are located.
He said the Chief Executive is determined to mobilize members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to “break
open” all warehouses and confiscate all hoarded rice if the practice continues.
“Ang kaniyang continuing warning: tumigil na kayo kasi kilala ng Presidente kung sino kayo. This time around, he
made it very clear. He will not hesitate to break open the warehouses. Sue him but he will break open warehouses if
it becomes an issue of national security,” Roque said.
President Duterte was reported to have called a rice hoarder and ordered him to expose everything from his
storehouses within 72 hours. Roque said the businessman heeded the President’s order and uncovered his rice
stocks.
“He knows who the rice hoarders are and where their warehouses are,” Roque said.
Meanwhile, the Duterte administration sees curbing the practice of rice hoarding in the country and opening rice
importation to all, as measures to address the impact of rising inflation rate.
Based on the latest record of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) inflation rate in the country surged to 5.7% in
July, the highest ever recorded in five years. – Rosalie Coz / Marje Pelayo