WHY ILLEGAL DRUGS CONTINUE TO FLOURISH?

The chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod's committee on police matters
believe that the illegal drugs trade is a profitable business as it
continues to flourish despite the government's drive to eradicate the
menace.

City Councilor Erwin Plagata said the police has already initiated
action to reduce the supply and demand of illegal drugs but it
continues to exist. The police first tried to focus on the supply
reduction and yet nothing happened. They shifted their strategy in
demand reduction, also nothing fruitful came out.

Plagata suggested that the police should change its strategy by doing
the demand and supply reduction at the same time.

In a radio interview, Plagata said an all out war is needed to
resolve the problem on the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in
the city. The problem should be first resolved in the grassroot
level. This could be done with the participation of community.

The help of the barangay officials, law enforcers, non-government
organizations and youth organizations are needed to fight the menace,
Plagata said.

Plagata noted that the illegal drug problem has already destroyed the
moral fibers of the society. The nature of crimes 20 years ago
compared to the present is comparatively different and extreme, he
added.

Plagata also said there is a need to intensify not only the supply
and demand reduction but also of the information campaign on the
ill-effects of illegal drugs. He believes the continuous information
dissemination campaign on the ill effects of illegal drugs will shun
the buyers. If there are no buyers, there will be no sellers, he said.

The Public Information Office (PIO) of the Iloilo City Hall has been
conducting "pulong-pulongs" in the city's different barangays on the
effects of illegal drugs. After they are done with the
"pulong-pulong", they started to visit the different schools in
Iloilo City.

The drive against the use and distribution of illegal drugs is not
only a matter of number of arrests but of the enough information
campaign on the effects of illegal drugs in one person. There should
be a concerted effort from all levels in the society, said Plagata.