KANANGA, Leyte- The municipal government under Mayor Rowena Codilla and the local Philippine National Police (PNP) office are determined to rid this town from illegal drugs.
There are more than 700 voluntary surrenderees under the ‘Oplan Tokhang’ of the PNP, said town police chief Chief Inspector Ricky Reli.
Mayor Codilla, on the other hand, intensified the town’s initiative to combat illegal drugs.
Since she assumed office last July 2016, she reconstituted and regularly convened the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) to address anti-drug related activities within the municipality.
She ordered the police chief in this town to “do whatever it takes to make Kananga, a drug-free town”.
Vice Mayor Elmer Codilla, meantime, said that the Sangguniang Bayan have a proposed ordinance that will remove government employees and barangay officials if found positive in using illegal drugs.
He added that they are doubling their efforts to go after these drug pushers operating in this town.
Thru series of meetings, the MPOC and MADAC of the locality chaired by the mayor have identified its interventions for Oplan Tokhang surrenderees such as spiritual counseling, physical fitness and sports activities, community service, livelihood and skills training.
So far, the surrenderees divided into batches have already undergone various sessions and activities.
Recently, a cleanup drive and tree planting activity was conducted at the Uban Falls by the municipal officials, peace and order and anti-drug abuse councils, Oplan Tokhang surrenderees and barangay officials in Barangay Libertad.
Uban Falls, identified as among the eco-tourism destinations of Kananga, is 7 kilometers from the town proper.
The tree planting and clean up drive is not only to engage the town officials, council members, surrenderees in community service activities but also to help protect our environment.
For the next phase, the surrenderees will be given an opportunity to undergo skills and livelihood training wherein they can earn income.
Municipal agriculturist Carlito Torreon said that they will present during the next meeting of the MPOC and MADAC on what kind of skills and livelihood training for the drug surrenderees.
(GERARDO C.REYES JR.)
