1,260 Grade 6 students in N. Cotabato complete anti-drug curriculum

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- More than 1,200 grade six pupils from four elementary schools here and in the town of Makilala and Kidapawan City successfully completed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), a government program aimed to educate the youth about the dangers of illegal drugs, a press statement from North Cotabato said.DARE is a 17-session 45 minute-module program integrated in the curriculum of sixth graders in the entire country.Chief Superintendent Lester O. Camba, police regional director for Central Mindanao, was the guest of honor during the DARE culmination rites held at the Kidapawan City Gymnasium.Camba explained that basically the program aims to educate youngsters using a comprehensive long term educational approach to prevent substance abuse among them. The DARE program educates and warns the students of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol to them and to the community,” Camba said.He urged the 1,260 sixth graders as well as other students to do away with drugs because it will not do any good to them but will ruin their future. Abuse of drugs and alcohol are two of the leading reasons why teens commit crime. These things must not have any place in your lives and you deserve a productive and meaningful future,” Camba stressed.The DARE Program is taught by police officers assisted by classroom teachers at least once a week until the 17-session 45-minute module program is completed.Leonida S. Domantay, PhilDARE Mindanao chapter secretary, said the DARE program also teaches the students how to resist pressures to experiment with these things. Aside from educating them the damaging effects of drugs and other illegal substances, we also offer the students the opportunity to gain trust from one another, develop a positive attitude towards law enforcement and build up respect for oneself and their peers,” said Domantay.North Cotabato Gov Emmylou Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza expressed her gratitude to the Philippine National Police and the Department of Education for coming up with a comprehensive program that will help and guide many students to do away with drugs and alcohol. Now as a valuable part of the curriculum for Grade 6, DARE program enable the students to fully understand the effects and negative consequences of drug abuse and win them over from substance addiction,” said the governor.Dr. Omar Obas, DepEd Cotabato Schools Division Superintendent, revealed that the department was also appreciative of the program saying that DepEd is more than enthusiastic to support the PNP and the Local Government Units in implementing the program.Board Members Noel S. Baynosa, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Ali Abdullah and Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista also graced the culmination along with other school officials, teachers and parents.The DARE program module will continue to be part of the students’ curriculum and the DepEd as well as the PNP are optimistic that the subject will help many students to strengthen their decision making by evaluating the results of various kinds of risk-taking behaviors particularly drug and alcohol abuse.