Niña Jean T. Aldaba & Princess Ann D.

Cornel

Aquino Street, Sto. Niño

Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur

18 April 2022

H.E. RODRIGO R. DUTERTE

President of the Philippines

Malacañang Palace J.P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila

Dear President Duterte,

We urge that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency working with the Department of Health to
secure and continue to execute the campaign for a Rehabilitation program across the City and
numerous Provinces all over the Philippines. Fight Against Drugs should be well-managed as it is
regarded crucial to society since each person should be accountable and aware that it might lead
to various crimes. All these crimes can grow prevalent in our society that might lead to take away
lives of innocent people and harm the future of many generations. We think that every individual
has the opportunity to alter change and rehabilitation clinics should be accessible to everybody.

Addiction to drugs is one of the most serious challenges that our nation, the Philippines, are dealing
with. In order to continue the ongoing decrease in drug addiction in the country, several
rehabilitation centers accredited by the Department of Health, such as the Marikina Rehabilitation
Center (NGO), Roads and Bridges to Recovery (NGO), and Bridges of Hope Drug and Alcoholic
Rehabilitation Foundation (NGO), are working together. According to data, The number of drug
users in the Philippines has declined by more than 50 percent from 4 million in 2016 to 1.67 million
in 2019. It is well known that drug addiction is connected with significant violence towards the
drug abuser and others around him or her, particularly women and children as well as members of
the community. Evidently, drug addiction has had a substantial negative impact on the economy
of the Philippines, since drug users have become less productive in their occupations. In addition,
a significant number of criminal activities quickly decrease from its peak. Aside from the life-
threatening consequences of drug addiction for women, children, and members of the community,
it also affects the self-esteem of those who take drugs.

In the Philippines, the use of illicit substances has been quite prevalent for a long time. The goal
of our petition is to find a solution to a specific problem involving a large number of Filipino drug
users and pushers who are in the majority. An open rehabilitation center for anyone who uses drugs
in every local municipality and barangay would be extremely beneficial in reducing the commotion
as well as in ensuring that drug addicts are treated in the most effective manner possible. For the
sake of greater clarification, we would want to bring attention to the benefit of drug users, in the
hope of saving not just one, but many lives. Drugs are a menace to our national security just as
much as any other external adversary is today. They are a significant contributor to crime and
violence. Illegal substances may be eliminated if the problem is addressed at the family level, via
dialogue between parents and children. Educate young people about the potential consequences of
taking illicit substances, and run efforts to raise awareness among the general public. Additionally,
people who are already involved in the usage of drugs may benefit from counseling and therapy.

Kurt Cobain once said, "Drugs are a complete waste of time." Their actions ruin your memories
as well as your self-respect and everything else that is associated with your self-worth." It is
possible for drug addiction to take over your life before you are even aware that it has occurred.
Abusing drugs is not only something you can do, but it is also something you study in order to
reach your objectives and avoid being hooked to drugs and making your life miserable. You need
to quit doing drugs since there are so many other things you can accomplish with your time in life.
People must be informed of the side effects of these medications in order to avoid being involved
in this situation. However, despite the fact that the issue of drugs seems to be intractable, there are
real actions that may be done to decrease the grip that drugs have on society. Drugs not only pose
a danger to the safety and security of the community, but they also have the potential and capacities
of drug abusers as human beings diminished.