By Allen Estabillo/PNA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The city government has stepped up its community-based advocacy activities against illegal drugs as it acknowledged that the problem has remained prevalent in some barangays in the area.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Monday they have strengthened their partnership with barangay councils and other local stakeholders to help free local communities from the illegal drug menace.
He noted that 17 of the city’s 26 barangays have not yet been declared as drug-cleared, citing the ongoing illegal drug-related activities there.
Some of these barangays were previously cleared by authorities but later reverted to drug-affected status.
“It only shows that once an area is declared as drug-cleared, the campaigns should not stop. Our barangay stakeholders and law enforcement units must ensure that such status would be sustained,” he said in a radio interview.
The mayor said the city’s campaign is focused on the reduction of illegal drug supplies and users in local communities.
He said they have been enlisting more community residents to become advocates through the city’s innovative Purok Laban sa Krimen program.
The program is being implemented by the local government in all 26 barangays, in coordination with barangay councils.
The city government, through the Integrated Barangay Affairs Office, has partnered with the Liga na mga Barangay to properly monitor the program’s implementation.
“We have capacitated our barangay officials and concerned residents, so they can help police their communities against people who are behind these illegal activities,” Rivera said.
He said their advocacy program mainly complements with the continuing operations of the city police and other law enforcement units against illegal drugs.
“We’re leaving the law enforcement part to authorities and focusing our attention on the advocacy part,” he said.
