WAR ON DRUGS

ALAMINOS CITY—This city became the first city in Region 1 to be declared by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on June 19 as drug-free.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 1 Director Jeoffrey Tacio lauded the efforts of the city government as he added that “it might be the first city to be cleared in the country.”

“What Alaminos did is indeed laudable,” Tacio said in an interview, but pointed out that the drug war continues.

A resolution passed by the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council attesting to the declaration the city as drug-free was signed by officials led by Tacio, Philippine National Police Region 1 Director Chief Supt. Charlo Collado and local officials led by Mayor Arthur Celeste was made in a program held at the city auditorium.

Tacio said the declaration was based on the evaluation made by the Oversight Committee chaired by PDEA with Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, local government unit and Department of Health.

P/Superintendent Benjamin Ariola, Alaminos police chief, credited the city government and barangay officials who from July 1, 2016 to June 15, 2017 collaborated to clear all the 39 Barangays from the 44 operations.

The city police confiscated 14.4048 grams of shabu and 0.067 grams of marijuana against 777 identified drug personalities who most of them surrendered and had undergone community based rehabilitation program.

Ariola said the monitoring of the drug personalities will continue since they are prone to return to to their vices. There will be a regular visitation of all drug personalities in the city.

A resolution passed by the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council attesting to the declaration the city as drug-free is signed by PDEA Regional Director Tacio, PNP Regional Director P/Chief Supt. Collado and Mayor Celeste. (Punchphoto by Nora Dominguez)

Celeste said the successful efforts of the city is an indication that the residents are determined to keep illegal drugs out of the city.

The mayor said the campaign started with a drug test of all barangay officials, and no one turned positive.

Acting Regional Director, P/Chief Superintendent Charlo Collado hailed the achievement of Alaminos City as a good example of political will to eradicate illegal drugs.

DILG Region 1 Director James Fadrilan said it’s not easy to eradicate illegal drugs but the biggest challenge is how to sustain it.

A marker for a drug-free city was also unveiled.

He said identified drug personalities in the city’s watch list underwent rehabilitation and intervention activities with the strong support of the Catholic church.

Meanwhile, Tacio said PDEA was set to declare as drug-free on Thursday Agno, Pangasinan.

As of June 19, 2017, Tacio said in Region 1, there are already 444 barangays declared drug-cleared, 226 of these come from Pangasinan.

Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan has been for many years drug-unaffected, he said.

He added other drug-cleared areas in Region 1 are Suyo in Ilocos Sur, Burgos in La Union and Laoac in Pangasinan, aside from Alaminos City and Agno town, also in this province. (Tita Roces/Nora Dominguez)

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