THREE MORE EXPECTED

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) finally declared the town of San Nicolas as the 6th drug-free town in Pangasinan last Thursday, September 7.

PDEA Regional Director Tacio awards the drug-free certification to San Nicolas Mayor Saldivar and Vice Mayor Joel Luansin during the signing and declaration of drug free municipality.

PDEA Provincial Officer Dexter Asayco certified that San Nicolas’ 33 barangays (26 of which were drug-affected) have been cleared with the endorsements of the Municipal Anti Drug Abuse Council, Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council, San Nicolas Police Station, Department of Health and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

PDEA Regional Director Jeoffrey Tacio, together with Mayor Rebecca Saldivar, PNP Provincial Director Ronald Lee, DILG Regional Director James Fadrilan, and Executive Secretary Ramon Morden led the signing and declaration of San Nicolas as drug-free.

Fadrilan cited San Nicolas, as the first municipality in the Sixth District to be cleared of illegal drug, and Pangasinan for being the province with the most number of towns declared drug-free.

Other towns declared clear of drugs are Mapandan, Dasol, Agno, Bani, Laoac and Alaminos City.  Only Sto.

 

Tomas town holds the distinction of being the only municipality that was never affected by illegal drugs before the Duterte administration declared the war on drugs.

Mayor Saldivar said the town worked hard for their new status, likened it to passing through the eye of the needle, but made possible by the unity demonstrated by the support and cooperation of the BADAC with MADAC.

With its new status, the 247 self-confessed drug personalities who surrendered have completed their community-based rehabilitation and training program, immersion program, livelihood training, health and wellness, some of whom have  been processed in court.

The lady mayor committed to allocate more funds to expand and continue the intervention programs, particularly the livelihood training program supported by TESDA and DOLE, i.e., the organic chicken raising and skills development training for the reformed drug users and pushers.

“Last year we only allocated P50,000 for the campaign on illegal drugs, not realizing that we have a President who’s dead serious about the campaign,” Saldivar said as she appealed to the families to continue to fully support the campaign “in order to continue to enjoy the peace and order achieved by our Napintas San Nicolas.”

P/ Sr. Inspector Arnold Soriano, town’s police chief, said the after-care program’s reporting system will require all the rehabilitated drug-users to submit themselves for the continuous intervention and training programs and a required spot drug tests every Sunday.

Asayco said the municipalities of Burgos, Sison and Anda will be next to be declared drug-free soon. (Nora Dominguez)

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