Carcar mayor Apura vows war against illegal drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura yesterday declared an all-out-war against the proliferation of illegal drugs in his turf, and warned policemen who act as protectors.

"Starting today, Carcar City will have an all-out-war against illegal drugs. Bisag kinsa nalambigit diha kinahanglan dakopon. Bisag police nga giingung protector, atong imbestigahan og kinahanglang dakpon, ato ng buhaton," said Apura in an interview.

The declaration against illegal drugs was one of the priorities Apura outlined in his state of the city address which he delivered last night as part of the culmination of the city's 4th charter day celebration.

Apura said part of their growth as a city is their crime volume, of which drugs still top.

"Nagkadako ta, nagkadako sad atong problema. So now, we are asking all the Carcaranons for their prayer and support nga tabangan ta nila nga masulbad ning mga problemaha labi na ning drugas," said the first-term mayor.

Meanwhile, yesterday's charter day celebration was "meaningful" for Apura as it was the first of the last three years that the cityhood battle has ended on their favor.

"Tam-is kaayo ang selebrasyon ron kay wala nay legal impediment.

Mapagarbuhon na kaayo mi nga motawag sa among lugar nga usa ka syudad," said Apura.

Part of the celebration was the inaugural ceremony of the Carcar City College building which was attended by Governor Gwen Garcia and first district Rep Eduardo Gullas, author of the city's charter.

This building, which used to be an old market, has five rooms that accommodate the school's first 391 students.

The population is just small for the time being but Apura said they expect it to balloon every school year considering that families who can't send their children to private schools would "definitely" opt for their local college, not only is it accessible, its cost is very minimal.

The school offers courses for P50 per unit, for Carcaranons; and P200 for non-city residents.

The school was opened last month being Apura's priority project.

"Bisag way kwarta kay dako tag gastuhan while nigamay atong IRA ato gyud ning giuna. Kay ubang mga batan-on, kung di nimo mapa-eskwela, dungag problema lang sa katilingban," he said.

Garcia who was guest yesterday however promised to add 10 more classrooms.

When it was converted into a city in 2007, Carcar received an annual internal revenue allotment of P273 until the Department of Budget and Management in May 2009, following the Supreme Court ruling declaring it along with 15 other new cities unconstitutional.

Apura said from May 2009 until the present, they have been making do with their P8 million monthly IRA.

But with the SC's latest ruling, making final and executory its April 12 decision which retains the 16 City Laws constitutionality, Apura is now praying that the DBM would grant their prayer to reinstate their IRA as cities so that they could already continue the projects which got stalled when the High Court annulled their charters in November 2008. – THE FREEMAN