March 27, 2026, Naga City- The Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and Ateneo Higher Education Health Services Office (AHEHSO), in cooperation with the College Ignatian Formation Program (CIFP) and National Service Training Program (NSTP) Department, once again conducted an Anti-Illegal Drugs Seminar dubbed “I Choose to be Drug-Free.”
More than 700 students attended the seminar at the University Gymnasium, with the majority participating from CIFP and NSTP classes. This seminar forms part of the University’s Drug-Free Campus Program, which aims to promote a safe and healthy learning environment, support students’ personal and academic development, and encourage responsible and informed decision-making.
The seminar began with an opening prayer, led by John Roi Peñaflorida, Senior High School faculty and CIFP & NSTP Formator, followed by opening remarks from Rodolfo “Sonny” SB. Virtus, Director of Student Affairs. Virtus highlighted the University’s comprehensive drug-free campus framework, which focuses on prevention, regular random drug testing, and intervention programs to address substance-related concerns. Merle F. Palcon, Administrator of AHEHSO and Chair of the ADNU Drug-Free Campus Committee, then introduced the resource speaker.
Resource speaker Francis Grace H. Duka-Pante, Health Education Professor at the University of the Philippines and Director of the ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education, emphasized the importance of evidence-based drug education anchored on Prevention Science. She identified risk and protective factors across personal, family, peer, school, and community domains. Students were encouraged to strengthen protective factors by developing coping, decision-making, assertiveness, and refusal skills.
Duka-Pante highlighted the role of youth as ‘Prevention Influencers,’ individuals who actively promote drug prevention through informed advocacy and positive peer influence. She outlined a four-step approach for youth engagement: identifying issues, taking a position, crafting a message, and moving into action through campaigns, partnerships, and community initiatives.
Duka-Pante concluded her talk with a call for students to commit to a substance-free lifestyle through a self-contract that promotes awareness, peer support, and help-seeking behavior when needed. She then led the participants in reciting a collective pledge of commitment to a drug-free life: “I will commit to a healthy and drug-free life.”
An open forum facilitated by Maria Josephine Reyes, Program Officer of OSA, followed the lecture, where students raised questions and shared insights on the speaker’s presentation.
In the upcoming semesters, the university will continue to implement educational and formation activities as part of its continuing commitment to a safe, healthy, and drug-free campus environment.
Written by Janice Tresvalles
