GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite – Four out of 33 barangays (villages) in this city have been declared drug-free based on the city government and local authorities’ assessments of their anti-illegal drug campaign as of Friday.
Supt. Paul Bometivo, city police chief, named the four villages as Dulong Bayan, 1896, Bagumbayan, and Governor Ferrer based on drug-cleared declaration from Mayor Antonio Ferrer and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
"But we are still in the process of clearing the 29 other barangays with the help of the respective barangays officials, and rest assured, we will do our best para malinis ang iba pang barangays (so we could also clear the other barangays)," Bometivo added.
He said that they are intensifying their operations by holding seminars with the support of the city government - through Mayor Ferrer - on Community Mobilization Program (CMP), Drug Clearing Program and “Simula at Pagasa” (SIPAG) Program, a rehabilitation program for illegal drug surrenderers to start life anew and bring hope.
The chief of police said they started their CMP seminar last July 13 at the General Trias Cultural and Convention Center in Barangay Sampalucan here, which drew more than 500 participants comprising village chiefs, kagawads, tanods, members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) and the police.
The local police focused on the Community Mobilization Program by setting the parameters and how a barangay may be certified as a “Mobilized Barangay” by the Regional Police Headquarters and the proper mechanisms and operations by the city police drug enforcement teams.
During the CMP gathering, PDEA Calabarzon representative Mary Ann Loranzo discussed the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, such as how to intensify drug awarenessm and expounded on the BADAC’s role and the factors to be considered before the barangay is certified as drug-cleared.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jonathan Luseco, City Health Officer and City Social Welfare Officer Bengky Generoso also presented their respective plans and programs on the community rehabilitation program for illegal drug users and drug dependents. (Dennis Abrina/PNA)
