TARLAC CITY – To help curb illegal drug activities, this city government, in cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), held the Anti-Dangerous Drug Summit on October 14.
Vice Mayor Genaro Mendoza did the honors of welcoming the summit delegates, followed by Board Member Harmes Sembrano’s speech on behalf of Congressman Victor Yap and lectures from Tarlac City police chief PSupt. Bayani Razalan (“PNP Anti-illegal Drugs Campaign “Double Barrel”), DILG Tarlac Director Danilo Rillera (“DILG Memorandum Circulars and MASA-MASID”), and PDEA Region 3 Chief Information Officer Glenn Guillermo (“Seminar Workshop on Barangay Clearing Operations”), which aimed to equip the CADAC and BADAC members with enough knowledge regarding their respective agencies’ roles in the government’s anti-dangerous drug campaign.
Mayor Maria Cristina Angeles addressed the delegation and recognized the need for similar events like the summit to empower and encourage local government units and the barangays in their fight against drug abuse.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, graced the event as keynote speaker, acknowledging the efforts of the city mayor in the war-on-drugs advocacy of the present administration and citing the importance of support of local government units in order for this advocacy to succeed.
Governor Susan Yap also attended the affair and addressed the delegates, proving that the whole government of Tarlac is in full backing of the anti-dangerous drug crusade.
After the lectures and messages, members of both the City- and Barangay- Anti-Drug Abuse Councils were sworn into oath by Senator Angara and Mayor Angeles, followed by the recognition of Barangays Buenavista, San Juan de Mata, and Sto. Domingo as drug-free barangays in the city.
The summit was closed by the signing of the Pledge of Commitment by the CADAC and BADAC members as their vow to support the campaign against the abuse and misuse of dangerous drugs in the city and actively undertake initiatives to address the growing problem on the menace.
The city government promised that the summit is just the springboard of its anti-dangerous drugs programs and hopes that all stakeholders shall be one with their goal towards a drug-free Tarlac City./Tarlac CIO