The proliferation of illegal drugs has posed a continuing threat to the lives and safety of our people, and the peace and order of our country. Not only has it ripped families apart and snatched the bright future of many of our Filipino youth, but it has also bred criminality and corruption, compounding the societal ills that harm our nation.

If left unchecked, illegal drugs could have completely eroded the very foundation of our country and brought grave consequences to the lives of every Filipino that we could not even fathom. Recognizing this, I fully supported the intensive efforts of our former president Rodrigo Duterte in his campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.

We have done so much since 2016, thanks to the tireless work of then-president Rodrigo R. Duterte and our law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Dangerous Drugs Board, as well as various support groups and health workers who looked after the victims of drug-related crimes and even the victims of drug addiction.

However, this is no reason to rest on our laurels. The problem of illegal drugs persists and so must our efforts to eradicate it. Thus, I am happy that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has recently indicated his intent to continue the fight against illegal drugs. I also agree with him that in doing so, we must also put emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation.

That is why I reiterate my persistent call that our approach to the drug menace in our country must be multi-faceted. We must remember that drug users are victims in need of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual help. They can still be productive members of our society, and we must endeavor to take care of them as we do any other Filipino.

As much as we focus on the law enforcement side of our anti-drug campaign, we must ensure that our efforts on treatment and rehabilitation are just as relentless. In relation to this, I filed Senate Bill 428 which will establish a drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center, under the supervision of the Department of Health, in every province throughout the country.

To help drug dependents reintegrate into society, the centers will provide them care, treatment, and accommodations. The centers will also offer after-care, follow-up, and social reintegration services to assist the patients in adjusting to community life after their release.

I am also glad that the Commission on Human Rights has recently expressed its support for this proposed measure. I appreciate the commission's recognition of our initiative and I am also eager to be its partner in fostering a human rights-based approach to policies that prioritize health, rehabilitation, and socioeconomic interventions for the treatment and recovery of persons who use drugs.

Meanwhile, we must not let up on our efforts to crack down on illegal drug operations. Indeed, we have to further intensify our campaign to apprehend drug pushers and drug lords who destroy the lives of many Filipinos just to fill up their pockets and expand their power. We must make them face the full force of the law.

That is why I also manifested my support for the proposed budget of the PDEA and DDB last week. As they have aptly exemplified in the past administration, these two agencies are crucial to our continuing campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.

It is important that we recognize the contributions of our anti-drug personnel who always put their lives on the line in the fulfillment of their duties. In this regard, I likewise filed SBN 419, establishing a Magna Carta of Benefits for the officers and personnel of the PDEA. While we are yet to enact this into law, I hope that with the proposed budget, we will be able to support and promote the welfare of our officers.

Apart from illegal drugs, persistent poverty and natural disasters are also among the many challenges that our people continue to face. Thus, I remain dedicated to assisting more indigent Filipinos and disaster victims across our country.

Last week, I visited San Miguel, Bulacan, together with my fellow senators Robinhood Padilla and Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa, to check on the condition of the victims of super typhoon "Karding" there and to personally give them aid. We also honored the five Bulacan rescuers, our heroes, who lost their lives while en route to help victims of the super typhoon.

I likewise witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Super Health Centers in San Benito and Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte. After which, I personally led a series of distribution activities for 1,864 struggling residents in said towns, as well as 750 indigent students in Surigao City.

My office also provided aid to 69 fire victims in Mandaue City, Cebu; 35 in Manila City, and 45 in Dasmariñas City; and 13 families in Pateros. We also provided aid to 1,110 displaced workers in Sta. Teresita, Batangas.

Indigent residents also received support, including 800 in Malolos City, Bulacan; 500 in Tangalan, Aklan, 152 in Zamboanga City, 483 in Tarlac City; 300 in San Pablo, Laguna; 264 in Boac, 66 in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; and 200 in Navotas City.

A total of 775 students in Bulacan State University-Bustos Campus were likewise given aid.

Meanwhile, we also continued to provide support to small business owners. In Romblon province, we helped 150 in Romblon town, 150 in Looc, 50 in Alcantara; and 50 more in Sta. Maria. In Quirino, we supported 1,635 from Aglipay, Cabarroguis, Diffun, Maddela, Nagtipunan, and Saguday. Finally, in Dinagat Islands, we helped 72 from San Jose and Basilisa, 50 from Cadianao and Dinagat, and 25 from Libjo.

We likewise extended livelihood support to 282 in Pagudpud, 247 in Curimao, and 240 in Batac, Ilocos Norte. In Agusan del Norte, beneficiaries include 53 in Tubay, 147 in Jabonga, 21 in Burgos, and 176 in Cabadbaran City. Meanwhile, in Surigao del Norte, we aided 15 in Sta. Monica, 40 in General Luna, 15 in Del Carmen, 19 in San Benito, 30 in Dapa, 100 in Alegria, and 50 more in Placer.

Our fight against illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption may be far from over but if we continue the significant strides made by the previous administration and fully support President Marcos Jr.'s call for unity in our shared advocacy to uplift the lives of Filipinos from poverty and the ongoing pandemic, we will be closer than ever to our goal of protecting our children and securing the future of generations to come.