Barbers urges island province execs to adopt Cebu’s strategy vs drugs

SURIGAO del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Tuesday called on all local chief executives of island-provinces in the country to adopt the strategy initiated by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia by putting up anti-illegal drugs offices in all 22 major seaports in the province.

Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, lauded Gov. Garcia’s inter-agency project to implement and intensify stricter border control in the 22 major entry points of illegal drugs scattered across the island-province.

“The ‘localized drug war’ initiated by Gov. Garcia in Cebu is commendable and is worth emulating by other Governors whose jurisdictions have many seaports,” he said.

“Since maraming pwedeng daanan o pasukan ng shabu at iba pang illegal drugs sa bansa dahil tayo’y isang archipelago, isang magandang hakbang at halimbawa ang ginawa ng Cebu government led by Gov. Garcia. Her anti-illegal drugs project is worth emulating by other local chief executives of island-towns, cities and provinces in the country,” he added.

The new setup is part of the strict border control efforts of the One Cebu Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Force organized by the Cebu provincial government, the Central Visayas police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7).

`The chiefs of police in the 22 seaports will head the sub-offices as commanders and a Philippine Coast Guard officer as its deputy. The sub-offices will be under the supervision of the PDEA-7.

Garcia said officials of the concerned government agencies have vowed to stop the entry of illegal drugs into Cebu province with stricter inspections of passengers and cargoes to be supervised by the “anti-drug offices” at the port.

A command center will also be set up at the Cebu capitol in Cebu City to monitor these ports with live, closed-circuit television cameras and other communication equipment.

The inter-agency group will also use this setup in other peace and order concerns in the island-province.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco