PRESS RELEASE

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan, Chairman of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, presided the 3rd quarter City Anti-Drug Abuse Council Meeting at the mayor's conference room on Wednesday, September 27. During the roll call of members, the meeting was attended by the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government Lapu-Lapu City, Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit, Parole and Probation Office, City Prosecutor's Office, City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, Public Information Office, and Bidlisiw Foundation. 

After the declaration of a quorum, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) RenewHealth Program presented its accomplishment report. Dr. Ivanhoe Escartin, Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID RenewHealth Project, described the good practices and initiatives of the LGU (Local Government Unit) and USAID partnership aimed at supporting community-based drug rehabilitation in Lapu-Lapu City. Some of the good practices included the creation and development of a local pool of CBDR (Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation) screeners, facilitators, and trainers, as well as sustaining an aftercare program and maintaining a functional Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC).

USAID also discussed ways to sustain CBDR, and Mayor Chan expressed his agreement to support the council in strengthening collaboration, assisting people who use drugs, and empowering the community regarding the negative consequences of illegal drug use. Both Mayor Chan and Dr. Escartin exchanged tokens as proof of their strong partnership. Meanwhile, during the accomplishment reports of concerned offices, the City DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) announced that Lapu-Lapu City had passed the 2022 Peace and Order Council (POC) Performance Audit at the national level. The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office also reported that Lapu-Lapu City was the most peaceful city in the region and had the lowest crime rate among all highly urbanized cities in Cebu.

These peace and order indicators, which encompass both index and non-index crimes, reflect the true peace and order situation in the city. Notably, with Mayor Chan's security policies, crime incidence decreased in Police Stations (PS) 2, 3, 4, and 5, except for PS 1. In the presence of Fiscal Ruso Zaragoza, the City Prosecutor's Office delivered its manifestation to the council. Additionally, the City DILG and PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) planned to add three more barangays to the list of drug-cleared areas before the year ends, based on the recommendation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program (ROCBDC).

Lapu-Lapu City's drug-cleared barangays currently include Tingo, Baring, Tungasan, Caw-oy, Subabasbas (mainland barangay), and Sabang, while Caohagan remains a drug-free barangay. Before adjournment, Barangay Caohagan was recognized and maintained its drug-free status, unanimously approved and adopted with Resolution Number 1843, along with Resolution Number 1755, which confirmed the absence of active drug personalities in Barangay Caohagan through the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing. PIO