Provincial board commends Sto. Tomas
PANGASINAN’S LONE DRUG-FREE TOWN
STO. TOMAS—Finally, this municipality finally got the recognition it rightfully deserves for being the first and the lone drug-free town in Pangasinan.
On Feb. 13, the provincial board through Provincial Resolution No. 167-2017 commended Sto. Tomas, town for being the first drug-free community in Pangasinan in the government’s war on drugs.
Long before President Rodrigo Duterte assumed his post last year, Mayor Timoteo Villar III said their town has been doing its own version of Oplan Tokhang, with continuous warnings (through tarpaulins and billboards) directed at drug users and pushers to avoid the town, or to relocate or face consequences.
The strategy worked well as Sto. Tomas soon earned the reputation as a ‘small but terrible’ community dreaded by drug personalities, Villar said.
The resolution acknowledged that the town met the parameters set by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and PNP in declaring it a drug-free community.
“The unprecedented achievement of the municipality of Sto. Tomas in implementing the project among local government units into a drug-free community deserves the highest commendation from the entire officialdom of the province of Pangasinan,” the resolution said.
“It is a very significant Valentine’s gift for our town and our townmates,” said Villar when the resolution was presented to him at the municipal hall by Fifth District Board Members Chinky Perez-Tababa and Clemente Arboleda Jr.
Villar said, the campaign against illegal drugs was started by his uncle, former mayor and former Dangerous Drug Board chairman Antonio Villar Jr, who served as the town’s mayor for more than 20 years, and continued by his wife, former mayor Vivien Villar who was at the helm for six terms.
“No one was exempted, not even any of our relatives,” the mayor said.
He added that he hopes others would emulate their example in the drug war to give meaning to the advocacy of President Duterte.
Vice Mayor Wilfredo Pescador said no words could express their gratitude for the recognition they had long expected from the provincial board.
“This is something we can truly be proud of,” he added.
The town which has only 10 barangays, earned a place in Guinness World of Records for its longest grill in 2008. (Eva Visperas)
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