CEBU, Philippines - With the increasing number of rugby users in Cebu, the Dangerous Drugs Board is working on more means for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to strictly enforce the regulation of rugby distribution, especially on its illegal use by children.
Former Dangerous Drugs Board Vice Chairman Atty. Clarence Paul Oaminal is reminding PDEA to enforce the compliance of the DDB regulation on the implementation of guidelines regarding Toluene-based Contact Cement products without at least five percent mustard oil which have been considered as dangerous drugs.
Oaminal said that manufacturers, wholesale distributors and retailers of contact cement commonly known as rugby cannot just sell them to any individual, especially to children.
He said they want to reinforce this since they have noted the increase of rugby boys, not only in Cebu but in other cities in the province.
Oaminal said that according to incident reports of the Philippine National Police and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the numbers have increased compared to the previous years.
He added that since the children caught using rugby are freed after a certain time after DSWD counseling, then the users do not take it seriously.
“That’s why we need to regulate the distribution,” Oaminal said.
He added that they will be meeting with the head of PDEA so that they can meet with industries involved in contact cement production.
“If there is proper enforcement, no rugby would reach street children.”
DDB has made the rules on the regulation and PDEA is their implementing arm.
The regulation states that “An individual who purchases the dangerous drug from a retailer shall be required to present a valid identification card and submit a barangay clearance for the particular purchase duly issued by the Barangay Chairman of the barangay where the individual presently resides, to the retailer.”
According to the DDB regulation, the barangay clearance to be submitted by anyone who will purchase rugby is supposed to indicate the quantity of the dangerous drug to be purchased, the purpose thereof and the Tax Identification Number of the individual. It shall be valid only for three days from date of issuance.
Oaminal explained that with the regulation, rugby boys could not just buy contact cement. “Whoever sells them must be answerable to the law,” Oaminal said.
Under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, violation of the regulation is punishable by imprisonment of six months and one day to four years. (FREEMAN)