Republik der Philippinen Botschaft und Ständige Vertretung bei den Internationalen Organisationen in Wien		Repúbliká ng Pilipinas Pásuguán at Pamalagiang Kinatawán sa mga Pangdáigdigang Kalipunán sa Vienna
PRESS RELEASE 02-09		18 March 2009

Philippine Progress, Challenges, in Addressing the Drug
Problem Highlighted at U.N. High-Level Drug Control Session

VIENNA - The Philippines’ progress in addressing the problem of illicit drugs in line with the goals and targets set by the United Nations General Assembly in 1998 was highlighted at the ongoing 52nd Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).

In a statement delivered during the High-Level Segment of the event, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chair Vicente C. Sotto III reported on the Philippines’ accomplishments and policy thrusts relative to drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction, civic awareness, alternative development, and international cooperation.

The Philippines recalled its law enforcement successes in terms of seizures of controlled substances and chemical precursors; actions against drug syndicates; and the dismantling of clandestine methamphetamine hydrochloride. Also underscored were efforts to promote alternative development using ‘sericulture’, as well measures taken to address emerging trends, such as the abuse of ketamine, a substance categorized as a "Dangerous Drug" by the government since 2005. In the area of demand reduction, the Philippines also informed the UN of the decline drug abuse prevalence in the country, as well its implementation of civic awareness, capacity-building, community-involvement, and treatment and rehabilitation.

During the High-Level Meeting, which was attended by heads of State, ranking Government officials, international organizations, experts and NGOs, the Philippines also invited attention to the growing use of migrants, especially women, by international drug syndicates, as drug couriers to traffic illicit substances. The Philippine delegation stressed the need for criminal justice systems to pay careful attention to the plight of migrants arrested for being unwitting couriers, and called for respect for their human rights principles and adherence to UN standards and norms relating to the treatment of offenders and prisoners.

The High-Level Segment 52nd Session of the CND served as the venue for the review of the progress of States in meeting the goals and targets set by the 1998 UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on combating the world drug problem. The High-Level Segment concluded with the adoption of a Political Declaration and a Plan of Action on advancing international cooperation, which charts the action to be taken by UN Member States in dealing with the drug problem for the next decade.

In addition to the Philippine statement, Chairman Sotto also delivered the official statement of the Asian Group during the opening of the General Debate. The Philippines is currently Chair of the Vienna chapter of the 52-nation group.

The Philippine delegation capped its participation in the High-Level Segment with a bilateral meeting with officials of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, on possible areas of cooperation between the UN anti-drugs arm and the Philippines, in the area of drug control. Meetings were also held between DDB and PDEA officials and their counterparts from Asia on issues of mutual concern, including curbing the use of ‘drug couriers’ by international syndicates, as well as information exchange and border cooperation.

Apart from Chair Sotto, the Philippine delegation to the Session also included officials of the Philippine Permanent Mission in Vienna led by Ambassador Linglingay F. Lacanlale, DDB Executive Director Edgar Galvante, PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago, as well as other key Philippine drug control officials.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the central policy-making body within the United Nations system dealing with drug-related matters.