From responding to an active shooting to recognizing the dangers of gateway drugs, students learned practical ways to protect themselves during a Crime Prevention and Anti-Illegal Drugs symposium at the FCU Gymnasium on September 30.

The symposium opened with a message from Provincial Director PCOL David Cachumbo Jr., who discussed the PNP’s efforts to strengthen peace and order services in Roxas City through its IQPASSED program and the Capiztawhayan initiative.

“A prevention starts with a simple decision,” he said.

Cachumbo Jr. emphasized that students’ everyday choices can affect not only their education but also their families, careers, and future.

“Every day, you make choices… Sometimes one decision can bring you closer to your goals, but one bad decision can also create consequences that may affect your education, your family, your career, and your future,” he added.

Meanwhile, PCpl Eeron Arcevo discussed the proper response to an active shooting scenario in schools, emphasizing the importance of staying calm and thinking clearly during emergencies.

Arcevo reminded students to remain calm, secure their classrooms by locking doors and windows when inside, and contact 911 or other available hotline numbers for assistance.

“Get out, lock out, call out,” he noted, summarizing the three actions students should remember during an active shooting situation.

For the main lecture, PCpl Roline Digan introduced Project READY, which stands for Resistance, Education, Against, Drugs for the Youth, while discussing the effects and consequences of gateway drugs and other harmful substances.

“With wisdom and proper teaching, ligtas ang may alam,” Digan emphasized.

Digan explained the role of Project READY in strengthening drug prevention among the youth through education and awareness of the risks associated with harmful substances.

Hasmin Zhen Dela Cruz, a Grade 12 STEM student who attended the symposium, said she learned the importance of making informed decisions and knowing how to respond during emergencies.

“I learned that our decisions can affect our future, and that knowing what to do in dangerous situations can help us stay safe,” Dela Cruz said.

The symposium highlighted the importance of informed decision-making, preparedness, and prevention in protecting students from crime, illegal drugs, and other harmful situations.

(Article by Beatriz Bolasco/The Hillside Echo – Senior)

(Photo by Clent Thomy Espiamba/The Hillside Echo – Senior)