Aangat Tayo Partylist, Palawan Adventist Mission to launch SAD-Free in Palawan

• Source: http://palawan-news.com/aangat-tayo-partylist-palawan-adventist-mission-launch-sad-free-palawan/
• Monday, November 7, 2016

By Alliae Alexie Garcia

The Aangat Tayo Partylist, in partnership with the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), is launching the campaign ‘Smoking, Alcohol and Drug (SAD)-Free’ in Palawan on Sunday, November 6, at the City Capitol Pavilion. Speakers for the said event include Ps. Ramil Rey, Communication Director of Palawan Adventist Mission (PAM), PAM Health Director Lanieflor Malabad and Congressman Neil Abayon of Aangat Tayo Partylist.

In a statement, Malabad said that the campaign aims to promote healthy lifestyle practices as well as to raise awareness, primarily among young people and families, on the prevention of smoking, alcohol and drug addiction. The campaign is supported by Youth Alive, a positive peer program that helps young people in establishing relationship to other young people with no vices, and is composed of a series of seminar workshops and other activities.

The basics of the SAD-FREE campaign, which is to help young people in having a healthy lifestyle physically, emotionally, mentally, intellectually and emotionally, was discussed by the said groups in a press conference held at the Palawan Adventist Mission (PAM) on Friday, November 4.

According to Ps. Ramil Rey, SAD-FREE started on 2008, with main objectives that include discouraging young people from using illegal drugs, alcohols and cigarettes,helping those who are already engaged in such activities to break their habits, and introducing young people to various programs which will divert their minds away from such unhealthy activities.

The said program has operated in various municipalities in Palawan, namely San Vicente, Narra and Taytay. It is considered a success given the good feedback from young people in the said municipalities. “So far, maganda naman yung outcome,” Malabad said as she shares the good news with regards to the assessment.

The program was also able to generate information on the different factors that cause young people to engage in drugs, alcohol and smoking. According to Malabad, these include poor family lifestyle, emotional disturbances, declining spiritual engagement and unhealthy lifestyle.

Lastly, on the part of Aangat Tayo Partylist, Cong. Abayon said they will help in strengthening advocacy plans, assistance in terms of financial and manpower, and pass bills that aim to promote SAD-FREE in Palawan.