Public ads vs drug use to be shown on TV, in 300 cinemas

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA — The government will launch this week a series of public service announcements (PSA) narrating the destructive effects of substance abuse as part of the Duterte administration’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Sunday the film ads would be shown on major television networks and about 300 cinemas of a popular chain of shopping malls.

He said internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza, known for making graphic crime-drama movies, directed the two 150-second and four 30-second advertisements for free.

Mendoza, who has won in the prestigious Cannes film festival, received mixed reactions from the public when he directed the first State of the Nation Address of President Duterte in July.

“This will be the first PSA under the Duterte administration,” the Palace official said over state-owned DZRB radio.

“(Mendoza) did a great job. The (PSAs) will show the evils caused by illegal drugs and what its effects to the people,” he said.

He said the short films would be shown in SM cinemas and major TV networks during the whole month of September.

“The good news here is that the government did not spend a single centavo for this. Director Brillante Mendoza did not charge us for these world-class (advertisements),” Andandar said.

He said SM and all the TV networks have agreed to air the PSAs free of charge.

Detainees sleep on the floor as they await processing during the Eastern Police District’s operations targeting drug personalities, persons with warrants of arrest and violators of city ordinances. The PNP Eastern Police District covers the areas of  Pasig, Marikina, Mandaluyong and San Juan Cities. One hundred ninety eight (198) people were arrested during the operations. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA)

Meanwhile, Andanar said the Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) has finished the construction of a radio booth for the President’s own radio show titled “Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa.”

The radio program was patterned after Mr. Duterte’s “Gikan sa Masa,” a public-service-oriented but expletive-laced TV show he hosted when he was the mayor of Davao City.

“Soon we will hear a radio broadcast straight from the Palace,” Andanar said.  SFM

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