ANGONO, Rizal – The entire lakeshore town referred to as the Art Capital of the Philippines has finally been cleared of drugs, according to the Calabarzon Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug-Clearing Operation and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
However, acting Mayor Gerardo Calderon in a statement said that there’s much more to be done if only to maintain its stature, even as he urged the local police to sustain its campaign against illegal drug use and illicit trade.
In his directive to newly-installed police chief Major Henry Villagonzalo Jr., Calderon sought for a collaboration of the local police and force multipliers for visibility, while the local government is working on a partnership with all the 10 barangays and local businesses for the provision of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Calderon also called on public vigilance and collective effort to sustain what he described as an essential element seen to make or break a locality. “Masaya kami na drug-free na ang buong Angono. But that does not give us the reason to be complacent. In fact, we find it rather more difficult to sustain what we have collectively attained,” Calderon said during the 2nd quarter Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting over the weekend.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also gave the Angono LGU a remarkable 98% functionality based on the most recent performance audit report on its anti-drug campaign, program and delivered results. The performance audit report was based on the LGU’s functionality and effectiveness of local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC) embarking on existing issuances and policies, ADAC-initiated innovations and best practices as well as the platform for evaluation and assessment. Interestingly, it was the LGU’s six-month multi-dimensional program approach designed to help in the rehabilitation of drug dependents that earned Angono’s top distinction. First to be declared as “drug-free barangays” were Kalayaan, Poblacion Ibaba, San Roque, Sto, Nino and Bagumbayan. Followed by Barangays San Pedro, Mahabang Parang and Poblacion Itaas. Barangays San Vicente and San Isidro were the last to be validated. “Drug dependents should not be ostracized, maligned or treated as criminals. The truth is that these people are sick and badly need our help,” Calderon quipped.
