NAMRIA NEWSCOOP


NAMRIA and DDB ink MOA to strengthen campaign against illegal drugs
By: Jois Roueli O. Ferrer

Following the national government’s initiatives to create a safe and drug-free nation, NAMRIA signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) as its institutional support to the implementation of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).  The MOA was signed virtually through the video conferencing platform Webex on 08 March 2021.
 
Present during the event were NAMRIA Administrator, Usec. Peter N. Tiangco, PhD and DDB Chairperson Sec. Catalino S. Cuy, along with DDB Executive Director Usec. Earl P. Saavedra, NAMRIA Legal Officer Atty. Erwin B. Bellen, and Budget Officer Conrado F. Apolonio who acted as witnesses.  The MOA included the granting of funds for NAMRIA to implement its own anti-illegal drugs action plan.
 
Administrator Tiangco signs the MOA with DDB. – VENER QUINTIN C. TAGUBA, JR.
 
Administrator Tiangco (center), Legal Officer Attorney Bellen (left), and Budget Officer Apolonio (right) pose for a souvenir photo.
– VENER QUINTIN C. TAGUBA, JR.
 
Screenshot of Sec. Cuy and Usec. Saavedra taken during the virtual MOA signing.
 
The anti-illegal drugs plan funding became possible owing to NAMRIA’s being, out of the 61 member agencies of ICAD, one of 13 organizations found compliant with all the requirements and, thus, entitled to a fund release.  NAMRIA is the only agency that, beginning year 2021, has been given the full budget by the Department of Budget and Management.  NAMRIA’s anti-illegal drugs plan aims to maintain safe and efficient working conditions for its personnel by providing a drug-free workplace.
 
Advocacy, education, and training programs form part of NAMRIA’s anti-illegal drugs plan.  These include mandatory drug testing at least twice a year for all permanent, job order, and outsourced personnel; and information, education, and communication  strategies such as establishment of the NAMRIA Drug-Free Workplace Policy and Program, display of tarpaulins, dissemination of narcotics and dangerous drugs brochures to all NAMRIA employees and clientele, conduct of slogan and poster-making contests, and distribution and wearing of anti-illegal drugs advocacy campaign shirts.
 
NAMRIA’s MOA-signing event was held in line with Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and in compliance with Executive Order No. 66 s. 2018 on Institutionalizing the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy, wherein all government agencies are mandated to actively participate in the advocacy, enforcement, prosecution, and rehabilitation aspects of the Whole-of Government/Whole-of-Nation approach against illegal drugs.


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