A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the establishment of a Special Drug Education Center in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was signed on Tuesday, August 6.
The MOA was signed by Neg. Occ. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, and Negros Occidental Drug Rehabilitation Foundation Inc. (NODRFI) president Adelaida Rendon at the Governor’s Office at the Capitol in Bacolod City.
SEDC is a community-based facility, which will serve as a venue for promoting preventive and developmental services for out-of-school youth and street children to keep them away from the harmful effects of drug abuse.
“We’re very happy that we are getting an improvement from the provincial government for the SEDC to make it a stronger institution,” Benitez said.
This is good because there is more emphasis on drug rehabilitation, he said.
The MOA states that the provincial government will create a governing body to be headed by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office that will manage the operation of the SDEC in partnership with NODRFI.
Meanwhile, Benitez said Victorias is on track to be declared a drug-free city.
“We’re fast tracking it, hopefully this year,” he said, pointing out that all the barangays in Victorias have been drug cleared.*