Quezon City (23 November) -- ASEAN and local experts will converge December 3-5 in Diliman, this city, to share best practices in educating the public about the global menace of drugs, under the auspices of the ASEAN Training Center on Preventive Drug Education (ATCPDE).

ATCPDE Director Ma. Lourdes H. Pacaldo, PhD, of UP College of Education, said the seminar, formally titled "ASEAN Conference on Models and Best Practices in Preventive Drug Education," will be held at the SEAMEO/INNOTECH, in Diliman, Quezon City as a joint activity with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Philippines, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Inter-Agency Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Education (IAC-DAPE).

Expected to attend are delegates from ASEAN member-countries as well as local professionals engaged in preventive drug education, according to Pacaldo.

She said the conference objectives include: (1) exploring best practices and approaches in training of stakeholders; development of information, education and communication materials; and advocacy and social mobilization on preventive drug education; (2) comparative analysis of models in preventive drug education; and (3) discussion of issues related to preventive drug education.

Conference schedule includes the following:

  • Day 1: December 2, 2007
    • Arrival of delegates and registration
  • Day 2: December 3, 2007
    • Opening ceremony
    • Models in Information, Education and Communication
    • Reducing At-Risk Behavior
    • Best Practices in Advocacy and Mobilization
  • Day 3: December 4, 2007
    • Drug Testing in Schools
    • Best Practices in School-Based Drug Prevention Education
    • Best Practices in Community-Based Drug Prevention Education
    • Closing ceremony
  • Day 4: December 5, 2007
    • Study Tour to a Community-Based Preventive Drug Education Project
    • Study Tour to a Drug Treatment Facility

Conference details may be inquired from Ms Linda Labastida, ATCPDE Secretariat, telefax +632 9289756, email atcpde_phils@yahoo.com, or visit the website at http://www.pia.gov.ph/atcpde (PIA)