Davide Challenges Bogo City to Maintain Drug-Cleared Status

Governor Hilario P. Davide III challenged officials of the city government of Bogo to maintain its recent principal standing in the war against illegal drugs following the formal conferment of drug-free status of its 29 barangays on May 26.

Davide, a staunch supporter of President Duterte’s war on drugs, explained that the greater challenge for the city is to maintain the achievement.

“The bigger challenge is to sustain and maintain the achievement,” Davide said.

Bogo City officially conferred a drug-cleared status to its twenty-nine barangays after undergoing a rigorous validation process by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Bogo City Mayor Carlo Martinez was present during the ceremony along with Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Noli Taliño, Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Director Eric Noble, Atty. Ana Lynn Hernandez of PDEA 7, and Dr. Soccoro Entera sa Department of Health (DOH) 7.

Bogo, located 101 kilometers (63 mi) from Cebu City, is the first drug-cleared city in Central Visayas.

“That status is difficult to achieve and is a big challenge to village chiefs and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils,” said Davide.

“Dili lalim ang atong trabaho ug paningkamot nga malimpyo ang atong barangay sa ilegal nga droga,” he added.

In 2015 census, Bogo City has population of 78,120 with a total land area of 103.5 square kilometres (40.0 sq mi).

Davide also expressed appreciation to City Mayor Carlo Martinez for his active involvement on the relentless campaign against illicit drugs.

“Dako kaayo ning problema ang droga. Ang Presidente nagkaingon nga this is not a walk in the park, kailangan gyud kini og political will, ug kailangan agresibo kita sa atong kampanya batok sa droga,” Davide added.

Moreover, PRO-7 Director Noli Taliño said there should be continuous encouragement to drug surrenderers not to become drug returnees.

He said that the presence of drug returnee will cost the city to lose its drug-cleared status.

“Achievement of the city does not stop from there. Let’s continue to help by way of monitoring and trying to constantly engage with the drug surrenderers,” Taliño said.

Taliño added that with the recent confirmation of Bogo’s 29 villages, Cebu now has 149 drug-cleared barangays.

cebu.gov.ph