Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes turns over the key of the brand new SUV to PDEA-7 chief, Levi Ortiz at the Mandaue City Hall grounds. Also in the photo are Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and a PDEA personnel. CDN Digital photo | Mary Rose Sagarino
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – The Mandaue City government turned over a brand new Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) worth P1 million to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) at the City Hall grounds on Tuesday, February 9, 2021.
“Life will not stop just because of COVID-19. We have to move on, padayun ta sa ato’ng serbisyo sa mga katawhan and one of which ang pagkuan (strengthen) nato sa war on drugs, usa ni sa kuan (priority) sa Mandaue,” said Mayor Jonas Cortes.
Cortes said with the PDEA, the city’s 27 barangays will be empowered in the fight against illegal drugs.
Cortes added that one of the things they have discussed with PDEA-7 chief Levi Ortiz was the lack of personnel of the PDEA.
The Mayor added they assured the PDEA that the city will capacitate and empower barangay officials and barangay tanods to help in the fight against illegal drugs.
“Kay kung macapacitate lang nato ato’ng barangay officials ug ato’ng mga barangay tanods dako gyud kaayo og tabang specially sa visibility sa nagkalain-laing barangay. Nga og adunay mga ahensya sa gobyerno nga visible nga nagmonitor, deterrent gyud na sa dautan’g mga huna-huna hilabi sa drugas, ” said Cortes
Cortes said they are aiming to make Mandaue City barangays drug-free this year. /rcg