During the closing ceremony of the school year, Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz presented certificates to the schools that participated in the D.A.R.E. program from January to May 2025, benefiting more than 2,900 elementary and secondary students from 30 institutions citywide.
“I proudly share that I was both a student and a teacher at this school. Today is a historic and joyous day as we conclude the D.A.R.E. program, a key initiative in addiction prevention and promoting good decision-making,” the mayor stated at Club Rotario Elementary School.
The program, coordinated by the Municipal Department of Security and Citizen Protection, focuses on teaching a responsible decision-making model, educating participants about the risks of drug use and violence, and reinforcing core moral values.
“I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey, especially those working closely with our children to educate and guide them,” said the mayor. “This has been a tremendous effort—a true team endeavor. Always trust your ideas and fight for your dreams; with persistence, you will achieve them.”
He also pledged to support students by providing new computer equipment for the media lab.
For his part, the local Minister of Security and Citizen Protection, José Alejandro Avilés Amezcua, thanked the mayor for his support and promotion of programs like D.A.R.E.
“This department is honored to participate in these events, particularly in a program with such a profound impact on children and youth in addiction prevention. We are at the service of the community, leading a police force that is yours, dedicated to protecting you,” he added.
During the event, fifth-grade student Elisa Cuando González, representing the beneficiaries, said:
“Thank you, mayor, for the support we have received for our beloved school—the paint, the reforestation, and the lamps we needed so much.”
The event also honored to D.A.R.E. officers who, as she emphasized, “not only taught us to say ‘no to drugs, no to alcohol, no to violence,’ but also led by example, showing that courage, respect, and responsibility are values to be upheld with pride every day.”
This event was attended by the Municipal Secretary of Public Education, Miguel Nuño García; the Baja California Secretariat of Education’s delegate in Tijuana, Nancy Alcántara Ibarra; and the head of the National Center for Crime Prevention and Citizen Participation, Beatriz Adriana Olivares Pinal.
Also present were the President of the Council for Violence and Addiction Prevention, José Galicot Behar; School Zone No. 28 Supervisor Laura Cervantes Ayala; and Club Rotario Elementary Morning Shift Principal Sandra Leticia Martínez Brizuela, among other officials.
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