By Paulo Loreto Lim

During the Bacolod City launch of RehabiNasyon, a national campaign aimed at eliminating illegal drugs throughout the country by encouraging drug users to enter rehabilitation, which recently took place at the Bacolod City Government Center, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Ramon L. Cualoping III said there are currently total 1.4 million surrendered drug addicts seeking rehabilitation.

“Having an objective [of] a drug-free Philippines [makes] us work double time,” he explained. “There [has been] a lot of efforts from various government agencies in terms of rehabilitation and reintegration, and in terms of advocacy.”

Cualoping, who spoke at a RehabiNasyon Roadshow and Town Hall last month in Iloilo City, earlier described the campaign as an “all-encompassing government campaign against illegal drugs [that] aims to communicate to the public the harmonized programs of different government agencies, debunk alternative truths, and showcase the results and benefits of the government’s efforts to fight the drug menace.”

Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI Director Wardley Getalla recently declared all Negros Occidental barangays “drug-affected,” based on recent data gathered last month.

He urged local government units to initiate and double clearing efforts.

Based on data released by Police Regional Office-6 last month, from December 5, 2017 to January 28, 2018, the Bacolod City Police Office recorded the most arrests related to illegal drugs in the entire region./PLL, WDJ