The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) received the Outstanding Anti-drug Abuse Council Awards during the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) “2023 Drug Prevention and Control Week Celebration and Regional Awarding Ceremony” in San Fernando, La Union, on November 24.
The Drug Prevention and Control Week Celebration is an annual event of DILG to promote public awareness against the harmful effects of illegal drugs.
PGIN, under the leadership of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, has been committed to supporting the Philippine National Police (PNP) and DILG in eradicating drug usage issues through provincewide drug-clearing activities.
“Alam po natin na dito sa Ilocos Norte, hindi malaking problema ang droga but we know that this problem cannot be taken lightly,” Gov. Marcos Manotoc remarked during the conduct of PNP’s “Sustained Barangay Drug-Clearing Program Buhay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan” at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City.
“We have to stay on top of our communities and make sure na talagang tutukan ang problemang ito,” he added.
At present, 12 municipalities of Ilocos Norte are already drug-cleared, wherein the municipalities of Nueva Era, Paoay, and Pinili were recently included on the list.
Meanwhile, Engr. Pedro S. Agcaoili., PGIN’s Provincial Planning Development Officer, hopes for a continued collaboration and cooperation between local government units and various drug enforcement agencies to sustain this milestone, saying:
“Kailangan po magtulungan ang mga barangay, munisipiyo, [ang] Provincial Government, PDEA, PNP, at DILG para tuluyan po nating mapuksa ang [problema sa] droga dito sa ating probinsya.”
“Nananawagan din ako sa ating mga kakailian (provincemates) na tulungan ang ating gobiyerno sa pagpuksa ng droga through information dissemination,” Engr. Agcaoili added.
The Provincial Government also received the Outstanding Peace and Order Council award, which recognizes its active role in ensuring the safety of its constituents. (Kenneth Dhovan C. Natividad)
(Source: Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte – Communications & Media Office)