By Genalyn Kabiling The country's drug problem would not go away in the next 10 years amid the possible active operations of international drug cartels, President Duterte admitted last Wednesday. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the Pamamahagi ng Titulo Handog ng Pangulo program at Liwasang Alfaro G. Aguirre in Mulanay, Quezon on May 2, 2018, declares that he is willing to hand down government-owned land that are deemed unused or unproductive to the farmers. The President, however, was quick to add that he needs the cooperation of congress for the reform of government-owned lands. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO The President gave a candid assessment of the gravity of the drug menace amid the government's aggressive campaign against illegal drug trade. "The drug scene is there and it will not go away for the next 10 years. Pera eh and the idiots," Duterte said during the presentation of newly designated banknotes and coins in Malacañang. Duterte recognized that the illegal drug trade remains a problem for the government, citing the proliferation of shabu and cocaine in the country. "Shabu is lower D, E. It’s a commodity for the poor... it is only peddled in poor, urban areas, blighted area," he said. ‘Yung mga taga-rito sa Makati, sa gobyerno , and can afford, it’s now cocaine and we see a very active role being played by the cartel," he added. He said the drug cartel from South America was "really a vicious one" while a "new triad" has emerged. He did not elaborate. Last March, the President tagged the notorious drug cartels from Mexico and South America for smuggling loads of cocaine into the country. Earlier, he blamed Taiwan and Hong Kong-based criminal gangs for using the country as transhipment point of illegal drugs to the United States. He said it behooves upon America to work closely with the Philippines on this "serious matter." The President, meantime, urged the public to watch two crime shows, "Amo" and "Dope" that give an insight on the dark world of illegal drugs. Duterte admitted watching these two programs, currently streaming on Netflix. "Amo" is locally produced TV action series set against the backdrop of the government's war on drugs. The show is directed by Filipino Brilliante Mendoza. "Dope" is a crime documentary on the cat-and-mouth chase between authorities and drug cartels across the United States. "Nakita naman ninyo ‘yung ‘ mo,' now you have a glimpse of the dark world of drugs. ‘Amo,’ ‘Dope' you go to the internet, you go to the documentaries,” he said. "Go to documentary, ‘yung 'Dope.' Makita mo, it’s Baltimore in USA, openly," Duterte added about the drug syndicates operating on American soil. Citing a scene from the documentary Duterte said policemen allow street-level users to operate since they were focused on running after the big drug traders. "So parang tiangge, ganun ," he added. Duterte admitted that if that a similar scenerio happens in the country, he won't allow drug pushers to live.