Two barangays in Olango Island ‘drug-cleared’

CEBU, Philippines —  The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) has recently declared two more barangays in Lapu-Lapu City as “drug cleared”.

City of Lapu-Lapu Office of Substance Abuse and Prevention (CLOSAP) executive director Garry Lao said these two barangays, Baring and Tingo, all located in Olango Island are additions to their achievements after the oversight committee declared last year the island barangay of Caohagan as “drug-free”.

The oversight committee officially cleared these two additional barangays during their deliberation and assessment on June 30, 2021.

In his letter to Mayor Junard Chan, Lao said the two barangays were able to satisfactorily comply with all the documentary requirements necessary for its application for drug cleared status.

Lao added that Baring has 74 drug personalities while Tingo has 36, as reflected in their certified BADAC watch list (CBWL).

He also stated in his letter that all these drug personalities have completed a community drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP).

These drug personalities also executed an affidavit of undertaking to undergo rehabilitation at Balay Silangan.

“We will continue to work hard and improve our programs in relation so that everyone in the barangays will achieve a greater understanding of the problems of addiction,” said Lao in a statement.

Fire truck donation

Meanwhile, the Cebu Korean Association Incorporated recently donated a fire truck to the Lapu-Lapu City government to augment the city’s firefighting capabilities.

Present during the turn-over was Vice Mayor Celedonio Sitoy, Cordova Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho who is the wife of the association’s president Bong Hwan “Charlie” Cho and Bureau of Fire Protection officials.

Mayor Sitoy-Cho, the niece of the city’s vice mayor was the one who facilitated the donation of the P3 million worth of fire truck being a sister LGU of the city.

Chan said that the fire truck would be a great help in times of fire especially that the city has a growing population as he hopes that the partnership between the Korean association and the LGU will continue.

In that same activity, the mayor turned over the donated fire truck to City Fire director, Supt. Manases Bautista, through BFP-7 regional director, Senior Supt. Manuel Golino.

The city fire chief said this new fire truck will be an addition to the city’s 13 fire trucks, two of which are tankers. — GMR (FREEMAN)