MANILA - The government has released two equally heartbreaking advertisements, tackling how illegal drugs have destroyed the lives and families of narcotic users.

Directed by award-winning Director Brillante Mendoza, the commercials will be aired on television to encourage more Filipinos to join the government's intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

The advertisements tell how a father's drug addiction destroyed his family, and the struggles of an Overseas Filipino worker who has a drug-dependent son.

The advertisements entitled "Father" and "Mother" were directed for free by Mendoza and were endorsed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Mendoza said the anti-drug television ads will be launched in phases to put an emphasis on how the illegal drugs problem slowly creeps into the community and the nation.

“The advertisements will target the Filipino families who might be dealing with problems caused by drug abuse. (The message is) all hope is not lost, the time to end illegal drug-dependence is now,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said.

The 30-second anti-drug advertisements are expected to be aired on television and cinemas nationwide, while full-length versions of the ads are posted on the Presidential Communications social media pages.

ABS-CBN and SM Malls have earlier pledged to air the government's anti-illegal drugs advertisements for free.

READ: ABS-CBN, SM to carry Duterte's anti-drug ads for free: Palace