City dad reviews MOA with PDEA-7 on dog donation
A Cebu City Councilor is studying the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) submitted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 on the city’s plan to donate 100 drug-detection dogs to the agency.
City Councilor David Tumulak said he was asked by Mayor Tomas Osmeña to look into the proposed MOA for any possible amendment.
“Makig-meet pako sa officials sa PDEA to discuss the proposal. Mayor Osmeña has already made his pronouncement to donate 100 K-9 dogs to the agency but my concern is if the MOA is advantageous sa part sa city or dili,” Tumulak said.
Tumulak said the draft MOA will still be subjected to the approval of the City Council.
PDEA-7 acknowledged the problem of the agency on the numerous entry and exit points in the island of Cebu where the alleged smuggling of illegal drugs take place.
“The need to effectively address the smuggling of illegal drugs to and from the country via seaports and airports, a perennial problem of the national and local governments, is underscored by the executions of Filipinos caught transporting illegal drugs in other countries,” the proposed MOA reads.
The 100 drug-detection dogs will be deployed in the different entry points of the city such as the sea ports, airports, among others, to augment the interdiction efforts of PDEA.
In the proposed MOA, the city is asked to shoulder the expenses for the salary of the 100 handlers of the dogs as well as the dog’s provision of foods, medicines, immunizations, among others.
PDEA, for its part, will provide trainings, seminars, and workshops to the handlers of the dogs but the expenses will be charged against the city government.
Further, the agency will prioritize Cebu City in the utilization of the K-9 units since it is the donor.
In the proposed agreement, PDEA is asking to have the sole administrative and operational control over the handlers of the K-9 units.
It was earlier announced by Osmeña that he planned to address the presence of illegal drugs in the city through this move.
The mayor recognized that the drug-detection dogs are seen in airports, ports, five-star hotels, and other identified places.
But, he said he wants to see these dogs in public places like in schools, crossroads, night clubs, and other areas where public are likely to converge.
Tumulak said he will still discuss the matter with the mayor.
Once finalized, he said he will submit it to the City Council for the authorization of the mayor to sign the agreement in behalf of the city.