Proposal August 31, 2010

I. BACKGROUND

Since the passing of the Comprehensive Drugs Act in Y 2002 ¹, policies and programs have been developed in some agencies, establishments, and in many schools and communities ^2,3,4 . Yet, it is a reality that drugs still permeate society and have been continuously associated with crime, social and family problems, with ill health and accidents; and with unproductivity. The drug supply continues to flow despite the heroic deeds of agencies who enforce the Drugs law. Among the many reasons are: the Philippines have the longest coastline where drugs can be smuggled and can be sold; marijuana plantation abound in difficult and mountainous areas; shabu laboratories operate even in houses. Preventive programs could not adequately catch up with the users or potential users.

General Objective:

This is a proposal for an expanded drug-free program for various workplaces and workers vulnerable to drug use, and for drug-free schools and communities through the medium of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Specific Objectives:

The project entails building a drug-free program where establishments from both the public and private sectors would carry out drug prevention activities not only from their own ranks or companies, offices, but also instigate or strengthen drug-free advocacy with other workplaces, schools and communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programs (CSR).

Why Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

CSR is described as how a company “operates in a way that meets, if not exceeds, the moral, lawful, commercial, and public expectations that society has of business”.

Viewed as a comprehensive set of policies, practices and programs, drug-free workplaces, schools and communities integrated throughout the company’s business operations supported and rewarded by top management, would be an exemplary way of doing CSRs.

Civil society has been playing a minor role in the fight against drugs, and this can be improved. Rotary Clubs and Inner Wheel Clubs are partners in this program. By numbers, the oldest Rotary Club of Manila represents over 200 members. While their counterpart, the Inner Wheel Club of Manila has 100. Looking at the national figures, Rotary clubs in the Philippines and the Inner Wheel Club have some thousand members, a formidable potential source of ally in this fight against drugs. All three populations, i.e workplace, schools and communities are well represented in both RCM and IWCM. And as proposed by the two organizations, the project looks at a potentially powerful alliance of the civil society with the current implementers of Drug Prevention in this country.

II. WHAT IS THE PROPOSED STRATEGY?

Advocacy seminars and workshops, and information campaign can support and strengthen existing preventive and enforcement efforts on drugs.

This would entail building a program where establishments from both the public and private sectors could carry out these activities not only from their own ranks or companies, office, but also building of linkages with other workplaces, schools and communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programs (CSR).

Preventive programs can be enhanced by the linkage of RCM and IWCM with implementers including: government agencies i.e. the DOLE, DDB, PDEA, DSWD, DepED, CHED, TESDA, the Civil Service Commission, PIA, the local government units, and the representatives of the private sector (PMAP, MAP, ECOP, PCCI, Industry sectors, media, and the CBCP).

The IWCM and the RCM with the assistance of PDEA have started an awareness campaign albeit in a limited manner in 2009 to 2010, specifically these were orientations in Central Colleges of the Philippines, and in Montessori-Paranaque.

III. THE PROGRAM

Planning Stage, and Seminar/Workshops for Corporate Strategic Orientations on Drug Prevention (CSODPs)

1. Planning Phase:

Seminar/workshops for the members of participating associations will be carried out, by IWCM, OSHC, RCM; they will then echo the orientation in their own workplaces, and to their contractuals, if needed.

1. Operational Phase

For 2.1 and 2.2 activities, collaboration will be initiated by the private establishments from CSR Level 1 to CSR level 2. Target operators and workers may come from TODA⁵ and OTC⁶. Technical partners will be provided by OSHC-DOLE, IWCM, DDB, PDEA. Other partners may include the Philippine Construction Association, mining association, DOLE NCR, private sector.

Technical inputs to all activities will be provided by OSHC-DOLE, IWCM, DDB, PDEA, private sector.

1. CSRs level 1: A set of advocacy program thru seminars and information will target workplaces in the formal sector (large associations, i.e. PMAP, MAP, ECOP, PCCI, Industry associations), including Service, Manufacturing, and hazardous and highly hazardous workplaces on the requirements of the DO 53-03. The last industry category include transportation, energy, construction, mining, and chemical manufacturing).
2. CSR level 2 establishments will target establishments or workplaces such as, but not limited to operators and drivers of tricycle, jeepneys and buses; small restaurants and small construction sites – in NCR.
3. In the public sector, the Civil Service Commission will establish working linkages on CSR for drug-free workplaces, schools and communities in partnership with DepEd, CHED, TESDA,PIA, the local government units.
4. CSR level 3: For establishments who prefer to work with schools, these will be done in any city of the National Capital region (NCR). Partners will include DepEd, CHED, TESDA, InnoTech, and RCM and IWCM, DOLE-NCR.

Technical partners will be provided by OSHC-DOLE, IWCM, DDB, PDEA, private sector.

IV. Seminar Content, and Information Activities

4.1 Duration of Seminars: 4 hours

SEMINAR CONTENT

• 30 minutes: orientation on drug concerns, drug supply programs
• 30 mins: key findings of surveys on drugs and safety and health; drug demand programs
• 30 mins.:health, safety, productivity and links to social problems of drug use and dependency
• 30 mins:modalities of random drug testing, links to counselling, treatment and rehabilitation services, possible reintegration of those who had been under treatment to their employment or schools.
• 30 mins: inputs to policies and programs for a drug-free workplace/school/local community
• 30 mins: Using the drug-free workplace program as a CSR for other workplaces, schools, and communities
• 1 hour can be devoted to Q and A, Role Play, exercises
• Support materials: Slides, video, handouts

4.2 Information and Dissemination:

Development of Information materials such as Slogans will be developed or adapted, for example putting up “This is a Drug-Free Workplace, Let’s Keep It That Way”; “Lahat Kami ay Kontra Droga”, or similar slogan in all 24,000 tricycles in Quezon City.

Flyers and streamers will be developed, printed and distributed;

Print, radio and TV programs. for e.g. links with PIA, and commercial broadcast medium, and established links with print outlets.

All these activities can be associated with ongoing regular print, radio and TV programs in the government and commercial outlets or TV channels.

V. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

All participating agencies are encouraged to contribute to the operational expenses of this project.

Parallel efforts to mobilize resources from other sources like the Rotary International, UN, SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth, others will be carried out by RCM and IWCM.

VI. MAIN IMPLEMENTORS: RCM, IWCM, OSHC-DOLE, PDEA, PCCI, INDUSTRY SECTORS SSS , PhilHealth

VII. COLLABORATING AGENCIES: DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DSWD, DOH, DDB.

VIII. RESOURCES (Human and Financial) NEEDED: for further discussion with partners

IX. MONITORING MECHANISMS: Key indicators

OUTPUT:

1. Preparatory Consultations of key and collaborating agencies:
2. MOA, MOU
3. Seminar/Workshop for participants from Key agencies, and collaborating agencies: Seminar/workshops: 1 day each for participating agencies (September 2010 to April 2011)

X. OUTCOME: a wider application of drug prevention programs in workplaces, schools and communities.

¹ Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002
² Department Order 53-03 Drug-Free Workplace
³ National Drug Education Program (NDEP)
⁴ DSWD Board Regulation
⁵ TODA – Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association
⁶ OTC – Office of the Transportation Cooperatives