“STAY away from our children. Stay away from Dagupan.”

This was the stern warning of Mayor Belen Fernandez, chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), to drug syndicates, dealers and pushers that continue to operate clandestinely in the city and in other communities victimizing the youth.

She said the city government will not rest until those who persist in operating in the city are collared and jailed.

Fernandez issued the warning when she spoke during the national observance of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week organized by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) in Dagupan City in the presence of Secretary Antonio Villar Jr., DDB chairman.

She led 15,000 in the “Walk of Hope” who danced their way to the tune of pop music from the Dagupan City Plaza to the CSI Stadia along the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension.

“This is an important day in our history because the DDB believed a small city like Dagupan has a big and a happy heart to lead an advocacy that primarily seeks to protect our children, keep our families whole, and our communities stronger,” said Fernandez.

The celebration had for its theme: “A message of Hope: Drug use Disorders are Preventable and Treatable”.

Included in the weeklong activity was a Trainors’ Training for 400 students taking National Service Training Program (NSTP), 100 each from the four provinces in Region 1, to lead in the fight against illegal drugs in their respective provinces.

Among those who joined the celebration were Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., Board Member Amado Espino III, representing his father Governor Amado Espino Jr., P/Sr. Superintendent Reynaldo Biay, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Police Office; P/Superintendent Christopher Abrahano, Dagupan City Police chief; City Schools Superintendent Gloria Torres and Dagupan City Councilor Jeslito Seen.

A delegation from Mandaluyong City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) joined the ” Walk of Hope”.
In her keynote speech, Mayor Fernandez expressed the hope that law enforcers in the city will remain true to their uniform in their campaign against illegal drugs “so that this lingering menace to the society will end and finally make Dagupan drug-free.”

Fernandez assured students, teachers and parents, ” We will not allow people peddling drugs to stand at the gates of our schools to prey on our sons and daughters.”

“After the family home, if there is another place we will defend with the full might and resources of the city government, it is the schools. We will invest in our schools to protect your children,” she added.

Fernandez said the introduction of the “No to Drugs Textline: 0047-377-7777 to the communities has helped the police gather raw reports on drug pushing activities in the city and resulted in the arrest of suspects.

She hailed the DDB for extending P10 million to complete the construction of the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Bonuan Binloc which has since been operational.

Meanwhile, Villar announced during the program that another P5 million check is set to be released by DDB to jumpstart the establishment of Dagupan City’s own drug testing laboratory.

Fernandez said while making Dagupan City drug free may not be realized soon enough, she intends to keep the city hall 100 percent drug-free and ordered random drug testing among department heads and employees.

“The campaign for eradication of illegal drugs in the city must start at the city hall,” Fernandez intoned. (LVM)

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