High-quality economic gains, sustainable anti-drug campaign best weapons to curb illegal drugs

ORANI, Bataan – Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia has stressed the presence of high quality  economic environment with integrated  and constructive actions of all responsible sectors as the best weapons to curb the drug menace in the province.

Speaking before the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting held at the 1Bataan Command Center here on Thursday, Governor Garcia cited the preferable business friendly and peaceful situation in Bataan peninsula being one of the fastest growing industrial hubs in Central Luzon cannot be easily infiltrated by drug syndicates or militant groups unlike during the volatile period of Martial Law.

He elaborated the significant commitment of stakeholders strongly advocating for efficient and effective drug monitoring system up to the grass root level has strengthened the mechanism of combatting illegal drugs.

The Governor said that about 70 to 80 percent of the total crimes committed in the country is reportedly due to illegal drugs.

In a related development, Bataan will be recognized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the province with most number of drug-cleared barangays in Central Luzon.

During the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting, PDEA Regional Director Joseph Ladip reported that a total of 58 barangays have already been drug cleared.