The first national forum on national substance use science policy and Information will be held on Tuesday, June 15, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has announced.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the forum will be hosted by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), together with the Asian Center for Drug Policy (ACDP) and the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila.
“The national forum aims to present existing evidence on health-centered effective strategies and interventions while employing human rights-based approaches and facilitate the inputs of various scientific disciplines in creating a five-year research agenda,” he said in a report.
“Evidence-based policy recommendations for national and local policymakers will also be presented during the forum.”
The theme of forum is “Substance Use in the Philippines: Governance, Research, and Practice.”
De la Peña said the forum is initiated in observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) on June 26, 2021.
IDADAIT aims to raise awareness and strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse, he said.
"With the theme “Share Facts on Drugs. Save Lives.,” IDADAIT 2021 stresses the importance of awareness and factual information on drugs and their dangers, and the value of evidence-based prevention, treatment, and care,” the DOST chief said.