Davao City creates drug education center for out-of-school youth and street children

Davao City has formally created a center offering education and developmental services to out-of-school youth (OSY) and street children, through Executive Order No. 37, Series of 2026, according to PravdaReport.

The Davao City Special Drug Education Center (DCSDEC) is meant to combine drug abuse prevention with wider social development work for young people outside the formal school system and those living on the streets. Under the order, the center is framed as a venue for preventive and developmental support rather than purely a drug control measure.

Planned services include literacy programs, skills training and capability-building activities, as well as interventions for drug abuse and other health concerns. The stated goal is to help participants become self-reliant and socially responsible.

Support will also extend to family counseling, spiritual services, and recreational and socio-cultural activities. The center is expected to encourage community participation and refer young people to other resources they may need.

An implementing team led by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will manage the center and develop its drug abuse prevention programs. One of the team's key tasks is to hold community assemblies to determine how many out-of-school youth and street children there are in the city and to assess their needs and challenges.

Until a dedicated facility is built, the center and its staff will work out of the offices of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac). The full text of the executive order is available on the Davao City government website.