CALASIAO, Pangasinan — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Ilocos Region declared this town as drug cleared municipality on Wednesday.
Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, Police Regional Director of Ilocos Region in an interview with newsmen during the declaration rite, said Calasiao is the 25th municipality declared as drug-free out of the 48 towns and cities in the province.
“This means that the people of Calasiao hate drugs,” Sapitula said.
Supt. Charlie Umayam, the town’s chief of police, said the municipality has 414 surrenderers from the 24 barangays here since July 1, 2016. They have been cleared by PDEA after finishing community- based rehabilitation and reformatory activities initiated by the police, local government units, civic and religious organizations and other agencies.
“They were trained to make puto (native rice cake), which is the famous product of this town, by the Puto Calasiao makers,” he said.
He added the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have also provided skills training to the surrendererers, such as manicure, pedicure and massage.
Umayam said their respective communities have also tagged these surrenderers to take part in planting or crop growing and livestock-raising, while some religious sector conducted counseling for them.
Other reformatory activities include “Zumba: Pawis ng Pagbabago”, which became a physical activity not only for surrenderers but also for the elderly and dance enthusiasts in the town.
“We want them (surrenderers) to continue to change for the good and this serves as a challenge for us, how to maintain the drug- free status of this town,” Umayam said.
The declaration was held at the Calasiao Sports Complex. (PNA)
