“We stand up to affirm and commit ourselves and to do our own share in this fight against illegal drugs proliferating in our beloved province.”
CATARMAN, Northern Samar- Officials of this province are serious in solving the proliferation of illegals.
Thus said Governor Jose Ong, who led the one-day anti-drug summit held on Thursday (August 25) at the gymnasium of the University of Eastern Philippines.
According to the governor, the holding of the anti-drug summit was a strong indication that they are with one on the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte to stamp out the illegal drugs activity in the country.
“We are serious on this campaign to end the proliferation of illegal drugs in our province. We are with the President on this crusade and we should give him credit for leading the fight. Every sector of our society is feeling this menace,” the governor said.
“We’re not truly aware how serious the problem on illegal drugs until Pres. Duterte made this as part of his administration campaign,” he added.
Gov. Ong pointed out that the summit was held for the purpose addressed comprehensively by all sectors in the province.
“The fight against illegal drugs cannot be done overnight with me alone. There is need for a multi-pronged approach and broadest multi-sectoral unity as drug problems has social and economic dimensions,” he said.
He added: “On this monumentally historic day onward, we stand up to affirm and commit ourselves and to do our own share in this fight against illegal drugs proliferating in our beloved province.”
The summit was attended by provincial officials, mayors, police officers and representatives coming from various sectors, to include the students.
They all sign a pledge of commitment to show that they are serious on this campaign.
Rep. Edgar Ong, who also attended the gathering, said that the Thursday summit could just be the start of their campaign to make Northern Samar free from proliferation of illegal drugs.
“This could just be the beginning for Northern Samar to become an (illegal) drug-free province. We are thinking of having another similar summit, perhaps in the next four months as a follow up,” the neophyte solon said.
Gov. Ong has admitted that just like in other parts of the country, illegal drugs have found their way to almost all sectors across the province.
Thus, with the help not only from the police but every member of the community, they hope to end the menace.
The police, under its “Oplan: Tokhang”, as of the latest, 1,195 individuals have voluntarily surrendered.
Of this number, 852 of them were drug users while 343 were classified as pushers.
(RYAN ARCENAS/LITO A. BAGUNAS)
