TEY in Action: SIPDM Alumni Rally Libungan Youth for a Drug-Free and Smoke-Free Future
Four alumni of the Summer Institute for Peace and Development Motivators (SIPDM) led a vital health and legal awareness campaign in Barangay Grebona on April 6, 2025. The event, entitled Empowering Youth for a Drug-Free and Smoke-Free Community. The initiative sought to confront the threats of substance abuse and smoking which continue to jeopardize the future of young Filipinos.
Endorsed by the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council), the event successfully gathered 50 youth participants, representing a cross-section of the “Tri-People” community, comprising representatives from the Bangasamoro, the migrant settlers, and the indigenous people.
Notably, the event reflected the program’s success in engaging young women in social issues, with a strong female presence among the participants at 54%. The high turnout reflected the local youth’s eagerness to engage in discussions about their safety and future when guided by peer mentors they trust.
The program successfully operationalized the networking competencies taught in the SIPDM training by facilitating a high-level collaboration between youth participants and local government authorities. Through a strategic partnership with the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Libungan, the organizers delivered a comprehensive health module that highlighted the detrimental effects of drug use and smoking on physical and mental health.
Simultaneously, the program addressed legal accountability through the involvement of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Libungan with the police officers providing critical instruction on Republic Act 9165 also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and other local ordinances. This ensured that participants understood both the medical and judicial implications of substance abuse.
This health and awareness campaign is part of SCC’s Research and Extension’s program, Transformative Education for Youth (TEY), which targets empowerment and capacity building of the tri-people youth.
