PDEA declares Barangay Tebeng drug-free; BADAC cites Belen

By January 2, 2022Top Stories

CITY’S SECOND DRUG-FREE BARANGAY

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), recently declared Barangay Tebeng in Dagupan City as a drug-free barangay, only the second barangay to be declared drug-free in the city after Barangay Mamalingling.

A certification dated December 16, 2021 attesting Tebeng’s drug-free status was received by Tebeng Barangay Captain Helen Fermill, chair of the Barangay Drug-Abuse Council (Badac) in a ceremony December 20 at the Barangay Tebeng Elementary School, attended by former Mayor Belen Fernandez as special guest.

Fermill was cited by PDEA Provincial Chief Richie Camacho for her dedication in leading the campaign to clear her village of illegal drugs. Also cited by PDEA were personnel of the Dagupan City police who assisted in the effort to clear the barangay of illegal drugs.

PDEA took note of the recommendation of the Dagupan City Drug-Abuse Council headed by Mayor Brian Lim and P/Colonel Benjie Tremor, city police chief that Barangay Tebeng already qualified to be drug-free.

The certification affirmed that Tebeng passed the evaluation and monitoring by PDEA along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and the Philippine National Police.

Meanwhile, former Mayor Belen Fernandez was cited by the Tebeng Badac for her support during her administration in making Barangay Tebeng drug-free.

In her speech, Fernandez congratulated the 20 drug defendants of Tebeng for their completion of the community-based rehabilitation program, launched during her administration, one of the factors that enabled the barangay to earn its drug-free status.

She recalled that in Christmas of 2018, these same drug dependents produced lanterns made from indigenous materials and sold to the city government from which they earned for their respective families. The lanterns were used to adorn streets in the city.

“I was a witness to the long sacrifice of our barangay-mates in the fight against illegal drugs. Let’s continue hoping and praying that not only Barangay Tebeng will be drug-free but the whole of Dagupan City,” Fernandez said.

Under the Fernandez administration, the campaign against illegal drugs was waged with the help of the community-based Rehabilitation Program supported by DILG, PNP. CHO, Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. Barangay Drug-Abuse Councils and religious groups.

DILG cited Dagupan as a National Anti-Drug Abuse Council silver awardee (with 95 percent ideal performance) in December 2018 as a result of the successful drug war in the city. (Leonardo Micua)

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