The National Service Training Program-Civic Welfare Training Service (NSTP-CWTS) of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), under the Arrupe Office of Social Formation, was one of those bested with a special recognition during the 4th Annual Awards of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) of Region XI on 28th November 2013.  The ceremony was held at Camp Domingo E. Leonor in San Pedro Street and graced by no less than Davao City’s chief executive, Hon. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

 Together with ADDU NSTP, one of the only four educational institutions honoured, are local government agencies in the field of health, prosecution, crime laboratories, law enforcement and one individual – all cited in recognition of their function/role in the promotion of substance abuse prevention, education, and rehabilitation, especially among the city’s vulnerable sectors (the children and youth), as well as in prosecuting violators and perpetrators of crimes related to prohibited drugs.

ADDU, as an educational institution that implements the NSTP Law, integrates substance abuse prevention education in its curriculum as mandated by law. Through its partnership PDEA, ADDU’s NSTP-CWTS implements curriculum integration of drug prevention education in its NSTP-CWTS 1 module, targeting sophomore students enrolled during the first semester of every school year.  To date, this is now ADDU’s third year of collaboration with PDEA in pursuit of this end.

Ms. Agnes Sagaral, RSW, ADDU’s coordinator of the NSTP-CWTS, received the recognition certificate from PDEA Regional Director Emerson R. Rosales and Mayor Duterte, on behalf of the university. (By M. Isabel S. Actub, Arrupe Communications & Advocacy)