December 16, 2016 (1:17 PM)

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Members and partners of the CAID during the organization’s launching. Photo taken from @ADDU_Official

Members and partners of the CAID during the organization's launching. Photo taken from @ADDU_Official

Members and partners of the CAID during the committee’s launching. Photo taken from @ADDU_Official

Representatives from the academe, students, and government officials all gathered at the Finster Auditorium last Dec. 15 for the Launching and Ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing of the Ateneo de Davao University’s Committee Against Illegal Drugs (CAID).

CAID is partnered with the Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) and the Sagop Kinabuhi Program of the Archdiocese of Davao.

The committee represents the Ateneo de Davao community’s dedication to providing solutions for the Philippines’ drug problem. Its creation came after the Pakighinabi Conversation Series “’Don’t Do Drugs’ vs ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’” last August 18 highlighted the police-led war on drugs’ lack of a counterpart rehabilitation and counselling program.

It spearheads four projects: Healing and Recovery for Drug Surrenderers (HERDS), Drug Hotline and Referral Helpline, Human Rights Training for Law Enforcers and AdDU In-House Community Awareness Training, and Mindanao Drug Trade: Linking the Local to the Global.

Healing and Recovery for Drug Surrenderers (HERDS) is a 5-phase community-based program dedicated to rehabilitating mild drug users. The project is headed by Dr. Melba Manapol, Lunar Fayloga, and Wilfredo Samante.

CAID Chair Roawie Quimba disclosed that AdDU will be adopting 3000 reformists from 25 Davao City barangays for the HERDS program.

The Drug Hotline and Referral Helpline serves as a supplement to ongoing efforts by the Dangerous Drugs Board and various rehabilitation centers to assist surrendering drug addicts and their families. It is headed by Apple Alvarez and Dr. Patria Manalaysay. The said hotline will open in January 2017, and will be available daily from 8:00 AM to 12:00 MN.

The Human Rights Training for Law Enforcers and AdDU In-House Community Awareness Training is a training dedicated to educating people on laws against illegal drugs and laws relevant to law enforcement. Among its project heads is Atty. Arnold Abejaron.

Scholarly research dedicated to unearthing the Mindanao drug trade’s links to the global drug trade will also be led by the CAID in it fourth project. The Mindanao Drug Trade: Linking the Local to the Global includes Neil Ryan Pancho as one of its project heads.

The CAID aims to create structures or reinforce existing ones in barangays to address the needs of the drug reformists all over Davao City.

After the launch and ceremonial MOA signing with the City Government, a press conference was held with University President Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, CADAC Co-chair Michael Aportadera, and some members of the CAID.

Aportadera expressed his hopes on the success of the CAID.

“Davao City is now geared to be a benchmark of this program to the country,” he said.

AdDU’s CAID is part of the Davao academic community’s plans to help the CADAC in its programs dedicated to helping drug surrenderees



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