TACLOBAN CITY- Serious on its pursuit to eliminate drug trade and drug use in the city, the administration of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez staged an anti-drug summit Thursday (September 21).
The summit, held at the Tacloban City Convention Center dubbed as “New Beginnings for Change”, started with a parade across the main streets of the city.
The participants were divided into three: the red team converged at Magsaysay Blvd. Kanhuraw side (downtown section of the city and city hall employees); the white team from Robinsons’ Place (San Jose and Marasbaras areas) and the blue team from the junction of Angelicum School, or those coming from the northern barangays of the city and proceeded to the venue for the program proper.
Carrying the theme: “Pagkaurusa para ha Pagbag-o Kontra Illegal sa Droga, Kriminalidad, Korapsyon ngan Terorismo”, the New Beginnings for Change is an inter-agency program participated by city employees and officials led by Mayor Romualdez, barangay officials and their respective constituents, students, and various organizations in the city.
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial was the guest speaker who lauded the city government for coming up a program to help drug dependents recover from substance abuse.
During the summit, the Masa Masid app was launched to help address criminalities in the city.
The New Beginnings for Change Program of Tacloban is a holistic approach in dealing with the drug menace in the city.
As of August 2017, 4,402 drug users voluntarily surrendered, 31 barangays were declared as drug- cleared barangays, while 62 barangays were being endorsed to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for drug-clearing.
(GAY B. GASPAY, TISAT/KANHURAW MEDIA TEAM)
