P2.5-MILLION BUDGET FOR ANTIDRUG BODY SOUGHT

BAGUIO CITY: An annual budget of P2.5 million for the city's Antidrug
Action Council would be a great help in the campaign against illegal
drugs, says Vice Mayor Peter Rey Bautista, council chair.

Bautista, who graced the burning of P3-million worth of marijuana and
shabu at the Melvin Jones on Friday, told reporters that the
P2.5-million budget could be sourced out from the internal-revenue
allotment share of Baguio.

He said that part of the budget could be allotted to anti-illegal
drugs enforcement agencies, like the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency, whose operational budget comes from the national
headquarters.

Bautista said modernizing the PDEA office in Baguio would boost the
anti-illegal-drugs campaign, especially in updating the database
members of drug syndicates victimizing even high-school students.

He admitted monitoring a number of high-school students in Baguio
using marijuana. Latest information reveals that some student also
use shabu, he added.

At least four high-school students were tapped as informants amid
intelligence report that marijuana dealers have been supplying
contraband to some students.

The US Office of National Drug Control Policy, during a convention
with stakeholders this year, released a survey about the risk of
marijuana among minor users.