CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov. Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda formed some 33,075 strong barangay officials, bantay bayan, health workers and Nanay community workers as members of Cabalen Drug Watch province-wide tasked to monitor and oversee the activities of the self-confessed drug users and pushers in their respective villages.
This Cabalen Drug Watch will also play a major role in the creation and promotion of healthy drug-free culture in the province and make sure that that drug surrenderees will never go back to their old habits.
Governor Pineda said barangay executives and workers will assist the provincial government and police authorities to oversee the drug situation in the province.
The governor said this group will take the role as first line of defense in the fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the province and front liners for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the drug users into the mainstream through the help of the local government units.
She ordered the members of the drug watch to encourage the remaining suspected drug users and pushers in their villages who failed to submit themselves to voluntarily surrender.
Governor Pineda also urged them to join the “Dalan Ning Pamagbayu” program for their reformation and integration into the mainstream of the society without fear of being apprehended.
“I don’t want any Kapampangan dead because of illegal drugs. We’ll give them another chance. I’m going to meet their parents or their families because they are responsible for the drug suspects,” the governor added.
“We will give them activities to make sure that they will totally quit their addiction and have a better life. I am planning to conduct a tree planting activity in Mt. Arayat as part of their physical fitness cum livelihood program,” the governor said.
It can be noted that the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) have initially allotted P10 million for the anti-illegal drug campaign in Pampanga.
The governor also tapped local government units and other line agencies to allot funds for the reformation and rehabilitation of the drug surrendered in the province.
LIEZEL CAYANAN
