“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)

TACLOBAN CITY-Another drug personality was arrested by the elements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office VIII (PDEA RO 8) during the conduct of buy-bust operation on August 23, 2016 at around 08:50 PM.
In a report submitted to PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña, elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 under Director Edgar T. Jubay, conducted a buy-bust operation at Brgy. 96 Calanipawan, Tacloban City which resulted to the arrest of Joel Blanco, 32 years old, a laborer, and resident of said village.
Purchased and seized from the suspect were five pieces of heat-sealed sachet of suspected shabu weighing around 0.31 gram, two pieces P500 bills as marked money, and various drug paraphernalia.
The suspect was charged for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs), Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), and Section 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165. Blanco is now temporarily detained at PDEA Detention Facility. (PR)

Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan said that giving recognition to the awardees underscores her desire to give importance the city’s art and culture.
The city mayor said that Catbalogan is so rich in history as well as its art and culture.
“Even during my first term, we have been trying to save the culture and arts; promote it…” Uy-Tan said.
Uy-Tan is elated that Charo Nabong Cabardo, one of the recognized foremost historian of the city, recognizes her administration’s efforts in recognizing the city’s culture and arts.
Uy-Tan said that she herself, after attending several activities related to the founding anniversary of Catbalogan, had realized how the local people had fought to have a Catbalogan to what it is today.
“With this realization, I become more passionate and only when I was able to know the history of the city from 1616 until 2016 that deepen my love for Catbalogan,” she added.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The recent spate of diarrhea outbreak that killed 81 people and afflicted 9,432 others here in the region is now over, the Department of Health (DOH) declared this week.
“For the past three weeks, diarrhea cases have steadily declined. This is the result of our strong message sent to affected communities that diarrhea kills if neglected,” said Health Regional Director Minerva Molon.
With 50 cases, Samar recorded the most number of deaths due to the water-borne disease.
Mortalities have been reported also in some parts of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Leyte including Tacloban City, the regional capital. The last death was recorded on July 10.
Molon also attributed the significant decline of diarrhea cases to the massive information drive, distribution of medicines, provision of aquatabs or water disinfectant tablets, and support of local government units and non-government organizations.
“We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that diarrhea will not plague these communities again,” she added.
The DOH-8 chief cited the summer season that dried up some of the water sources affected areas as the culprit.
The situation prompted people to get their drinking water from non-potable sources.
Molon urged local government units to prioritize water supply projects to diarrhea-affected communities.
Fiesta celebrations between May to June this year, according to the DOH official, also aided the increase of cases due to person-to-person transmission and improper handling of food.
The health department advised the public to drink water only from safe sources, eat well-cooked and properly prepared food, keep food away from insects and rats, use toilet when defecating, and always wash hands before and after eating and after using the toilet.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO