June 30, 2003
"Text the Pusher, Save the User" campaign
The Department of the Interior and Local Government in the Philippines plans to use text messaging in the government's crackdown against drugs by giving cellular-telephone users a direct access to government drug-enforcement agencies.
"With millions of Filipinos armed with cellular phones, the DILG believes that a text hot line, specifically for the reporting of illegal-drug activities, will be very effective tool against illegal-drug trade, according to abs-cbnnews.
The project initially being dubbed as "Text the Pusher, Save the User"will be launched next month in partnership with the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Other countries have launched SMS preventive campaigns against drugs targeted mostly to young people and in a bizarre story reported last year, a texting service was launched dubbed Snifferdog.com, inviting New South Wales residents to sign up for SMS tip-offs, warning them of the location of dog teams used to crack down on drugs and illegal handguns.
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