Kalinga creates provincial anti-illegal drugs body

By Peter A. Balocnit

Thursday 7th of June 2012

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, June 7 (PIA) - - The provincial government created the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Committee to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs and prevent the youth from being duped into the vice.

Governor Jocel Baac issued Executive Order No. 2012-17 creating the body and defining its duties and functions such as initiating inter-agency action intervention to prevent the entry and use of illegal drugs in the province, among others.

The body is tasked to promote the conduct of continuing information drive on the hazards and ill-effects of prohibited drugs, and develop and maintain inter-agency networking on illegal drugs activities.

To divert attention on illegal drugs, the committee will also provide social programs for the youth and those already addicted to it. Further, the body will monitor and report violators of anti-illegal drugs laws for apprehension of drug pushers.

It had been observed that police blotters on illegal-drugs and cases filed in courts increased. “There is a need to address the issue before it becomes uncontrollable and creates trouble in the communities,” the EO stated adding that partnership among government offices and civil society is the appropriate response.

The Committee is composed of the Provincial Legal Office headed by Atty. Kristian Wandag as Chairman; Atty. Francis Calsiyao of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines as co-chair; DILG Director Francisco Gamatero as Vice Chairman; and members are PNP Director P/Supt. Froilan Perez; Tabuk City COP P/Supt. Jeremias Oyawon; Kalinga-Apayao State College President Eduardo Bagtang; DepEd Division Supt. Norma Brillantes; Atty. Michael Pangda of the Provincial Prosecutors Office, and Atty. Rito Bongaoen of the Public Attorneys Office.

Also named members are City Legal Officer Ken Emery Martinez; Provincial Health Officer Romulo Gaerlan Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Digna Dalutag; Peter Balocnit of the Philippine Information Agency, Basil Baluyan of DZRK Radyo ng Bayan, and representatives from the Kalinga-Apayao Religious Sector, Office of the Congressman and Radyo Natin FM. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR,Kalinga)