The Angeles City Hall was recognized as a Drug-Free Workplace, following the unanimous approval of Resolution No. 001, Series of 2025 by the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ACADAC) on June 20, 2025.
The resolution was moved by Amir M. Estanislao of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Pampanga Provincial Office and seconded by City Information Officer-in-Charge Arnel San Pedro.
The document was later signed by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr.; Colonel Joselito E. Villarosa, city police director and ACADAC Secretariat Head Richard Alan E. Saul.
Lazatin said this milestone is one of his administration’s defining legacies.
“Ang deklarasyong ito bilang isang Drug-Free Workplace ay hindi lamang compliance — ito ay paninindigan. Isa ito sa mga pamana ng ating administrasyon — na sa loob ng pamahalaan mismo magsisimula ang disiplina at kalinisan laban sa ilegal na droga. Ipinagmamalaki kong iiwan sa mga Angeleño ang isang City Hall na ligtas, malinis, at may malasakit sa kinabukasan,” the mayor said.
Lazatin added that this declaration reflects the city government's compliance with Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), DDB Regulation No. 2, s. 2004, DILG-DOH-DOJ-PDEA-CSC JRMC 2024-01, and Executive Order No. 03, Series of 2023.
These require the implementation of comprehensive drug-free workplace programs and random drug testing in government institutions.
As part of its sustained anti-drug campaign, Lazatin said his administration conducted mandatory drug testing for all 4,491 City Hall employees.
Workers who tested positive were not abandoned but rehabilitated through the Balay Silangan Reformation Program.
The victims were referred to the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center in Magalang, Pampanga for recovery.
Lazatin said he also spearheaded the drug testing of 5,790 barangay officials.
The mayor added that the city government launched “Oplan Harabas,” a community-wide testing initiative targeting 11,485 tricycle drivers and 1,373 jeepney drivers, patterned after PDEA’s flagship program.
Lazatin said he also established the Balay Silangan Reformation Center, the first LGU-managed rehabilitation hub in the city.
This was patterned after PDEA standards, which is being supervised by Lazatin's Chief Adviser, IC Calaguas.
Calaguas is former PDEA Director and Deputy Director General for Administration and Chief-of-Staff.
To date, 524 drug offenders graduated at the Balay Silangan Reformation Center.
Lazatin said he also created a PDEA satellite office inside City Hall to strengtheb coordination between local authorities and national enforcement agencies.
These programs are institutionalized under Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 733, Series of 2025, which ensures continuity and funding for the city’s anti-drug initiatives even beyond the current administration.
The resolution mandated ACADAC member offices to maintain drug-free environments in their respective departments.