THE worsening drug-abuse problem, as indicated by recent reports from media and official sources, has compelled me to discuss the problem from a business point of view.
Economists and international agencies have been coming out with rosy predictions about the growth of the Philippine economy, dented slightly, perhaps, by the lower-than-expected growth in the first quarter of the year.
Our growth prospects may be affected by changes in the domestic and global economies, such as the peso-dollar exchange rate, or growth in the foreign markets for Philippine exports. With the continuing increase in remittances from overseas Filipinos, the robust business- process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the real-estate boom and low inflation, among other factors, the Philippines is expected to be among the world’s best-performing economies this year and the next.
Lamentably, the drug problem, which includes trafficking and abuse, as well as the involvement of international syndicates, is also posing a challenge to the Philippine economy and the people.
The seriousness of the problem is indicated by published information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the primary agency that enforces laws against illegal drugs, that some 8,629, or 20.51 percent of the country’s 42,065 barangays are considered as drug-affected.
Based on data gathered by PDEA, the National Capital Region (NCR) is the most affected, with 92.10 percent of its barangays affected, followed by Region 4A (Southern Tagalog, which comprises Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon or Calabarzon) at 33.78 percent. PDEA Director General and Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac Jr. explains that a barangay is considered drug-affected if a drug user, pusher, manufacturer, cultivator, or other people involved in illicit drugs is present in such barangay.
It is fair to say that all Filipinos, from the highest government leaders to ordinary citizens, are against illegal drugs. Yet the country is not able to stop the spread of this plague.
According to the 2015 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of the US Department of State, the lack of legislation authorizing wiretapping for drug cases and the lack of reform in the criminal justice system will continue to hamper efforts to stop drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point and market for illegal drugs.
The INCS report, which was submitted to the US Congress on March 18, said Chinese drug trafficking organizations dominate the methamphetamine trade in the Philippines. But there are indications of the presence of Mexican drug-trafficking groups in the Philippines and other countries in East Asia. On the other hand, African drug syndicates remain primarily engaged in the use of airline passengers to smuggle illegal drugs through the Philippines.
Amid these developments, it seems that the drug problem is not receiving as much attention it deserves, except from agencies that are tasked by law to run after drug traffickers and manufacturers.
The drug problem is not only a peace-and-order issue; it also affects the economy. It is not limited to drug addicts alone because it also affects the families and other people around them.
During the UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in 2012, the United Nations General Assembly said “transnational organized crime and drug trafficking was of growing concern and, particularly, illicit trade’s broad impact on development.”
The UN General Assembly pointed out that criminal groups, because of the huge illegal profits that drug trafficking generates (estimated at $322 billion a year), are able to undermine governments and the rule of law by “fueling corruption, compromising elections and hurting the legitimate economy.” And it emphasized that, “in all cases, criminal influence and money are having a significant impact on the livelihoods and quality of life of citizens, most particularly the poor, women and children.”
The New York-based advocacy group National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. says “drug use, abuse of addiction among employees and their family members can cause expensive problems for business and industry, ranging from lost productivity, absenteeism, injuries, fatalities, theft and low employee morale, to an increase in health care, legal liabilities and workers’ compensation costs.”
These days, the nation is focused on the dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the proposed Bangsamoro Basic law and the elections in 2016. I agree these topics are important, but so is the drug problem.
We need to pay more attention and channel more resources to stop the drug problem from further worsening. It is lamentable that the contrary is happening.
According to the US State Department report, the PDEA was not able to hire new agents in 2014 because its budget for that year was reduced. The report also noted that, in a country, with over 106 million people, the PDEA only had 35 agents per region, so it had to limit its activities to high-value targets, leaving the Philippine National Police to handle street-level pushers.
We may be able to cope with fluctuations on the currency markets, possible slowdown on remittances or even global financial crises, but neglecting the drug problem can jeopardize the bright outlook of the economy.
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