PDEA, PNP declare more drug-free municipalities in Pangasinan

AGUILAR, Pangasinan, Feb 13 (PIA) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Pangasinan police have lined up several more towns to be declared drug-free in pursuit of eradicating illegal drugs.

On Friday, Aguilar town in the second district, earned its distinction as a drug-cleared municipality as declared by PDEA Deputy Regional Director and Oversight Committee Chair Marvin Tabares.

“The municipality of Aguilar has satisfied and has complied with all the parameters for a drug-free municipality,” Tabares said during the signing and declaration ceremony held at the town gymnasium.

With its 16 barangays, 15 used to be affected with illegal drugs but are now all declared drug-free, said Police Provincial Director Ronald Oliver Lee.

The lone unaffected barangay, San Jose, received a certificate of commendation.

Rep. Robert Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said his committee’s advocacy where to eradicate illegal drugs is part of helping President Rodrigo Duterte in his serious campaign against illegal drugs.

“Kung ang pagiging drug-free municipality ay isang sakit, maganda na hawaan niyo na lahat ng kapitbahay ninyong bayan para sa ganun maging drug-free lahat,” Barbers said during the program on the declaration.

Barbers said the war on illegal drugs will not be successful without the help of the people and the community. He also lauded the help of one of the committee vice-chairperson, Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan’s second district, who was also present in the event.

He said the fight does not end in the awarding and picture-taking but rather the declaration is the start of a big job to sustain and maintain the status.

Mayor Eduardo Ballesteros, for his part, said the declaration is a momentous event and a great accomplishment in the area of peace and order that translate to close-knit families and inclusive prosperity.

Aguilar is the 16th town in Pangasinan to be declared drug-free. Two more towns in the province were declared drug-free namely Bugallon on February 12 and San Jacinto on February 13. (JNPD/VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)

Source: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1005034