City of San Fernando, Pampanga—The Department of Education Regional Office III announces the conduct of the Regional Search for the Outstanding Barkada Kontra Droga (BKD) Program Implementers this September.
Open to all secondary schools with organized and functional BKD Chapters, the search aims to strengthen the National Drug Education Program (NDEP) through the BKD movement established in schools; develop skills and understanding among students, faculty, and school administrators in initiating active responses for a drug-free school; and increase community awareness and participation, hence maintaining a fully drug-free environment in the school, home, workplace, and community;
Through the BKD Program, the support and services among educators, professionals, families, work forces, peer groups, and other sectors in curbing the prevalence of drug addiction in the country will besustained. Likewise, the best practicesof the different BKD chapters which will serve as models for other school to implement will be identified and highlighted.
The nationwide “Barkadahan” concept, which was borne out of a series of seminars conducted as a preventive and information program, is a collective action among the students and the youth in the community that would strengthen camaraderie, collaboration, cooperation, solidarity and linkages in the commitment to attain a drug-free lifestyle. Since 2004 to 2017, a total of 344 organized BKD Chapters nationwide have been organized with a total membership of 90,994.
Adamant in protecting learners from the adverse effects of dangerous drugs and in supporting the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, DepEd is continuously strengthening the NDEP, a comprehensive educational program, which provides a holistic approach in preventing and eliminating the menace of drugs in the country. The NDEP also enables all sectors to work collaboratively—with the school system as the core—thereby unifying all sectoral endeavors.
The NDEP has five components that the DepEd builds on to create awareness on the ill effects of using illegal drugs. These components are: a) curriculum and instruction; b) co-curricular and ancillary services; c) teacher and staff development; d) parent education and community outreach; and e) research, monitoring, and evaluation.
In July, DepEd RO3 and the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group pledged their commitments through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advocate and implement a Drug Education Program in schools to curb young students from taking drugs.
