CAPITOL HILL, Tarlac—Governor Susan Yap and Department of the Interior and Local Government [DILG] led the signing of a pledge of commitment to fight illegal drugs during the anti-illegal drug summit held at the Bulwagan ng mga Gubernador, August 4.
The summit, the first to be undertaken in Central Luzon, was a province-wide, whole day conference themed, “Championing Local Government Efforts on Anti-Drug Abuse: A key to Development,” is aimed to bring the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign to the grassroots level in the whole of Tarlac province.
The Provincial Government of Tarlac organized summit, is in response to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s all-out-war against illegal drugs and criminality.
Yap, in her speech urged the different government agencies to crap ways and come up a good sustainable programs to fight the illegal drugs menace that has affected the country for years.
“I urge the different departments of the government present in this summit to crap and come up good sustainable programs in eradicating illegal drugs to have a progress and peaceful communities.” Yap said adding, “Let us all join hands with the call of our President to end illegal drugs and criminality in our nation.”
In DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno’s message which was read by Undersecretary on Legislative Liaison and Public Affairs Office, Emily Padilla, he congratulated Yap and the whole province of Tarlac in initiating a bold move to jumpstart the realization of the President’s vision of having a drug free Philippines.
Second district Congressman Victor Yap said that the President has a serious direction to the problems that could never be solved without the help of the community.
“Now that we have a President that is serious in addressing the problem…this summit is a great opportunity to connect all the programs from the barangay to the national level and I am sure that Congress will be in full support.” The congressman said.
The Tarlac Police Provincial Office presented the anti-illegal drug campaign updates and accomplishments under “Project Double Barrel” while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency discussed the drug affectation and as for the DILG, the relevant issuances on anti-illegal drugs.
Four other Region III government agencies presented and offered their programs to the anti-drug campaign. Department of Health offered treatment, reformation and rehabilitation, the Department of Education’s drug education program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s offered Bahay Pag-Asa and processing center program and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s skills training programs.
Just recently, the provincial government of Tarlac and Talon Gen Hospital had entered to an agreement with the DoH to provide drug testing services to Tarlaqueños.
911 soft launch
The soft launch of the 911 hotline was likewise undertaken in the summit with DILG Undersecretary for Operations John Castriciones testing the newly installed emergency line.
It took less than five minutes for the respondents to arrive at the scene.
Last July, Duterte directed the National Telecommunications Commission through Memorandum Circular to assigned code “911” as the national emergency hotline number.
Also present during the summit are the Mayors, Vice-mayors, councilors that are chairmen and members of peace and order committee and Chief of Police of the different municipalities and city, Capitol’s department heads, Armed Forces of the Philippines from NOLCOM, Provincial Bureau of Fire and Protection and other heads of different government agencies.
An estimated 500 attendees attended the summit./ABL-PIO