ALCALA, MALASIQUI, BURGOS NEXT

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) declared Mabini as the tenth drug- free town in Pangasinan while the towns of Alcala, Malasiqui and Burgos are set to follow.

The ceremonial declaration of Mabini on Wednesday, November 8, as a drug free municipality was led by PDEA Regional Director Ryan Babang, Pangasinan Police Provincial Director, P/ Sr. Superintendent Ronald Lee, Mabini Mayor Alimar Briana, PDEA Provincial Officer Dexter Asayco, Mabini Police Chief P/Sr. Inspector Mark Ryan Taminaya.

Mabini is the tenth town validated as cleared of drugs by PDEA. Earlier validated were the towns of Agno, Anda, Laoac, Dasol, San Nicolas, Mapandan, Natividad and Alaminos City. Sto. Tomas was never affected by drugs.

Taminaya said the town is composed of 16 barangays and out of that number, 14 were drug-affected except Villacorta and Barlo that were unaffected.

The declaration was issued after the 138 self-confessed drug personalities that surrendered completed the 6-month community based rehabilitation program (CBRP), that included TESDA trainings on Carpentry NCII, moral and spiritual recovery lectures, and passed the drug dependency test.

All 138 have began to earn as carpenters through the food for work program provided by the Mabini government and continuously engage in physical fitness and clean-up drive as a community service.

Meanwhile, P/Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, Police Community Relations head, said Alcala town is scheduled to be declared drug free on Nov. 16, Malasiqui on Nov.17 and Burgos on Nov. 24.

Florentino said Binmaley, Mangatarem, San Fabian, Dagupan City, in San Carlos City will be declared drug free by PPPO once the processing of 12 barangays are completed.

As of Nov. 9, most of the 20,332 drug users/pushers who surrendered have already completed CBRP in their respective towns.

Awaiting validation as drug-free are Bolinao, Aguilar, Sison, San Quintin, Basista, Labrador, San Manuel, Bautista, Bugallon, Tayug, Sual, Calasiao, Umingan, Lingayen, Urbiztondo, Binalonan, Sta. Maria, Manaoag, Bayambang, Bani, Sta. Barbara, Infanta, Urdaneta City, Pozorrubio, Asingan, Rosales, Balungao, Mangaldan and Villasis.

Florentino said since PNP was been pulled out from the war on drugs, PPPO has intensified the demand reduction program through the D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in schools (in collaboration with DepEd) and through symposiums in barangays. (Nora Dominguez)

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