SILAY CITY — Inihayag ang Silay City sa Negros Occidental bilang kauna-unahang drug-cleared city sa Negros Island Region (NIR) sa deliberasyon ng Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) na pinangunahan ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) noong Miyerkules.
Na-clear ng Silay ang lahat ng 16 barangay mula sa iligal na droga sa pamamagitan ng Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP). Ipinagkaloob ni PDEA-NIR acting Regional Director Melvin Estoque ang Balangay Seal of Excellence kay Mayor Joedith Gallego at Police Chief Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Darroca.
“Silay City has achieved a historic distinction as the first drug-cleared city in Negros Occidental and the first in the NIR since its establishment. This accomplishment reflects discipline, governance, strong community involvement, and steadfast interagency cooperation at all levels,” ayon kay Estoque.
Ani Mayor Gallego, “When I assumed as mayor, my priority was to make Silay drug-cleared. We are the first in Negros, we are proud Silaynons fighting against illegal drugs.”
Dagdag ni Darroca, “The fight is not over. As chief of police, I give you this warning: To those who plan to bring drugs back into our ‘Paris of Negros’ – do not test us. We will not let you destroy what we have built.”
Ipinatupad din ng lungsod ang mga ordinansa at programa laban sa droga, nagtatag ng Balay Silangan Reformation Center, at sinuportahan ng lokal na pamahalaan ang proyekto na gumastos ng halos PHP30 milyon para sa drug-free community.
Sa deliberasyon, pinanatili rin ng ROCBDC ang drug-cleared status ng 319 barangay sa Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bacolod City, at Siquijor, habang 58 barangay ang bagong nakumpirmang drug-free. Dave Baluyot
