Capitol sets aside bigger anti-drug budget for 2018

ALL agencies mobilized for the war on drugs will receive an additional budget from the province, Provincial Board (PB) Member Celestino Martinez III said yesterday.

Martinez, who chairs the PB budget and appropriations committee, said a portion of the P91.5 million for the province’s peace and order budget will go to augment the anti-drug operations of the provincial police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

About P30.6 million will be set aside for the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO), a 52.14 percent increase from last year’s P20.1 million budget.

Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano-Meca, who heads the CPADAO, said a bigger budget will boost their efforts to ensure drug-free workplaces in the province.

Meca said they can only accommodate one local government unit (LGU) in conducting mandatory drug tests on their personnel.

“With the increased budget, we hope we can hire more so that we can conduct at least two drug tests from different parts of Cebu in one day,” Meca said. CPADAO conducts drug tests on a daily basis, including Saturdays and Sundays.

This year, they conducted drug screenings for teachers in the elementary and secondary levels in both public and private schools.

Cash incentives will also be given to cops and other law enforcers who conducted successful operations against illegal drug activities.

Meca said about 300 policemen and 24 police precincts received cash incentives through their Sugbo Kontra Droga (SUKOD) program last Nov. 28.
Naga City and Liloan town were cited among the best performing local governments.

Bogo City became the first city in Central Visayas to have all its barangays declared as drug-cleared by the Cebu Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs.
Naga City received P200,000 while Bogo City and Danao City received P150,000 and P100,000 respectively.

“We wanted to create a culture that the campaign against illegal drugs is a shared responsibility and therefore everyone should take part in achieving a drug-free society,” Meca said.