PDEA-3 declares Angeles village ‘drug cleared’
ANGELES CITY- Barangay Virgen Delos Remedios here obtained a “drug cleared” status from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Region III (PDEA-3) during a conferment ceremony held Monday.
The proclamation was made by PDEA-3 Director Gil Pabilona during the flag raising rites at city hall.
In his speech, Pabilona cited the efforts of the local government in combating the use of illegal drugs especially in the grassroots level in the bar angays.
“This is the first fruit of the efforts that the Angeles City council and the mayor have exerted. I know the mayor is really working hard to clear the barangays of Angeles City, for them to be drug-free,” the PDEA regional director added.
Back in 2016, PDEA named Angeles City as the first local government unit in Central Luzon that has rid illegal drug activities in a barangay. In the same year, three villages in this city namely Barangay Salapungan, Balibago and Cuayan, were declared “drug cleared.”
However, according to Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ACADAC) Chief Annaliza Suller, this is yet the first under PDEA’s new set of rigorous guidelines.
“PDEA is now executing a more intensive set of parameters before considering a village ‘drug cleared’. Aside from the agency, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Health (DoH), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) now comprise the validating and conferring body,” Suller added.
For his part, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan highlighted the conferment as a manifestation of the city’s strong commitment to President Rodrigo Duterte’s total war on drugs.
“This[declaration] reminds us about the important role that our barangay officials are playing in the crusade against substance abuse and its perpetrators. We remain firm to our vow of making our beloved city drug-free,” said Pamintuan.
Since 2012, the city has been receiving accolades from PDEA, DILG and PNP for its anti-drug campaign. Just recently, PNP also named Angeles City as among the five safest cities in the whole country.
— AC-CI O