Thursday, January 15, 2009 Officials welcome Arroyo's drug-free LGU challenge
GOVERNMENT officials of the Davao Region welcomed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's offer of development projects for local government units (LGUs) that declare their town, city and province drug-free.
The President announced the offer during Tuesday's cabinet meeting where she also announced her new role as anti-drug czar.
Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon said she had long declared her province a drug-free zone, adding that everyone else would surely declare his/her area as such as well.
"I think every governor will so declare," she said.
Some local chief executives, however, said declaring their area as a drug-free zone is easy but ensuring that illegal drugs don't enter their area is another thing.
"That is a tall order but it can be done especially if PGMA will walk her talk and support us by putting up a special court to hear drug cases and cleaning the judiciary of corrupt prosecutors and judges," M'lang Mayor Lito Pinol said.
Piñol added it's not enough to give incentives to LGUs that rid their areas of illegal drugs. Areas that are known sources of drugs should also be addressed.
"Development projects for LGUs that are drug-free... how about LGUs that are sources of drugs? What is the penalty?" he asked.
Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy is also skeptical.
"Can any LGU achieve that? I doubt," Uy said.
Sharing his skepticism is Davao City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte who believes that it's close to impossible to declare any LGU drug-free despite the very limited drug trade in Davao City. "Let's wait and see who can make a declaration," the vice mayor said.
Mati Mayor Michelle N. Rabat said that for them to declare a drug-free area, their drug enforcement personnel should be strengthened and cleansed first.
"They should also hire more prosecutors with just compensation. There are so many pending drug-related cases. I believe that should be part of the development package PGMA is offering," Mayor Rabat said.
On Tuesday, President Arroyo announced she would assume the position of czar or overseer of the fight against drug trafficking until the bribery controversy between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is resolved.
Arroyo said the renewed war would be waged from three fronts -- law enforcement, judicial action and policymaking -- a comprehensive policy consists of prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and after-care. She called the campaign a "trinity against illegal drugs."
The President ordered random drug testing for all secondary and tertiary students as part of the renewed war.
She also called on LGUs, the Church, non-government organizations and other sectors to intensify their anti-drug campaigns. (BOT)
