Catanduanes Gov. Cua vows to intensify fight vs illegal drugs to achieve drug-free province status

Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua vows to intensify the province’s efforts against eradicating illegal drugs to finally achieve a drug-free province status.

“Following its recognition as one of the recipients of the first Regional Peace and Order Committee award for drug-cleared barangay, the Province of Catanduanes, headed by Governor Joseph C. Cua vows to continue its efforts to pursue a drug-free province status,” the province said

Cua said that he supports the war on drugs against illegal drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte and the province is dead serious in its pursuit of the drug-free province tag.

According to Provincial Oversight Committee, at present Catanduanes has six drug-cleared barangays, namely, Salvacion, San Lorenzo and Osmena of Baras, Obo and Pangilao of San Miguel, and San Andres of Pandan; 62 barangays to be declared as drug-cleared, 77 unaffected or drug-free barangays.

“The DILG provincial office, as the lead agency of the Provincial Oversight Committee said that this proves that the province is very aggressive and serious in its drug clearing efforts in support of the national thrust,” said the province.

Former Department of Interior and Local Government undersecretary and now Dangerous Drug Board Chairman Catalino Cuy told the recipients of the award to maintain the fearless campaign against illegal drugs.

“Let us not sit on our laurels. Ang pagiging drug free ng isang lugar o isang community is a temporary status. Anytime pwedeng mawala yan…”, Cuy said.

Cuy added that there is a need for vigilance and cooperation from all the agencies and as well as the community to be declared as drug-cleared.

Present in the awarding last March March 23, 2018 at Ninong’s Hotel, Legazpi City were DILG Regional Director Elouisa T. Pastor, City Mayor of Legazpi and Chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council Noel Rosal, Regional Director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Christian O. Frivaldo, Regional Director of Philippine National Police PCSUPT Antonio N. Gardiola Jr. and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Director Arnel Bernardo.

Meanwhile Governor Cua received the recognition together with Provincial Director Uldarico Razal Jr., League of Municipality of the Philippines-Catanduanes Chapter Chairman Mayor Peter Cua, Baras Mayor Chito Chi, and San Miguel Mayor Francisco Camano Jr. and barangay captains of the six drug-cleared barangays