Capitol andPDEA forge tie-up againstillegal drugs in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial government, in partnership with the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), has adopted an integrated approach to intensify the campaign against the trafficking and use of illegal drugs in the province. The partnership was forged after Gov. Amado .Espino, Jr. met with PDEA regional director Jeoffrey Tacio and his provincial operations chief in Pangasinan at the Capitol yesterday where some kinks in the anti-illegal drugs campaign were ironed out. Briefed on the situation of the government’s on-going drive against the menace, the governor directed Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim,Jr. and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco to map out a comprehensive, year-round operational plan and massive information drive to effectively carry out the partnership. “This partnership serves as a strong warning to drug-traffickers and users,” the governor said, as he urged all segments of society to get involved in the anti-illegal drugs movement. A bemedalled police officer for capturing drug lords and author of the Dangerous Drugs Act as a Congressman,Governor Espino said that the anti-drug campaign should be taken seriously from prevention, apprehension to prosecution (PAP). Immediately after the meeting with the governor, the PDEA officials sat down with Calimlim and Velasco and agreed that the provincial government will make full use of its machinery on matters of illegal drugs use prevention. The PDEA, on the other hand, will concentrate on carrying out its law-enforcement mandate of running after drug traffickers and their minions and subsequent prosecution of all those arrested. According to Tacio, the partnership is the first kind to be adopted in the government’s anti-drugs campaign. “This is a big boost to PDEA’s campaign in this part of the country,”Tacio said, as he pointed out that the agency’s operations are hampered by limited logistical resources and manpower. As an initial step, the partnership decided to harness organized youth groups in the province, particularly the Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan. As per instructions of the governor, the provincial government’s 1,500 scholars will be mobilized to help galvanize the advocacy of the movement for a drug-free Pangasinan. Calimlim said an orientation-seminar has been set for the purpose on July 26 at the Capitol Complex. This will be followed by a similar activity with the province’s SK federation on July 27 at the Subic Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, the vice governor said. He stressed that a monthly work program is now being finalized to be implemented immediately. (PIO)