EDITORIAL – A drug-free Talisay barangay

The Talisay City police want to declare an upland barangay in Talisay City as free from drugs.

While it should be mentioned that Talisay City is known for its beautiful beaches and tasty lechon, it unfortunately also happens to have a notorious reputation for drug activities.

In fact, most people associate Talisay with the drugs first, not immediately with the beaches or the lechon.

So considering this reputation, the fact that the police want to declare one of its 22 barangays free from the scourge of the modern times is really a big piece of good news.

While the final declaration has yet to be made by the government, Talisay City Police Station chief Police Major Gerard Ace Pelare said they are convinced that the mountain barangay is drug-free, following coordinated efforts by the police and the city government.

As of yet he declined to name the barangay before everything is final.

We don’t call drugs the scourge of the modern times for nothing. The problem of drug use can be found in all levels of society from highest to lowest. It can count among its victims those who can make millions in day, those living in the streets, and practically anyone in between.

There isn’t anyone in the entire country who doesn’t know a friend or member of the family who, at one time or another, fell victim to addiction, to the false promises of comfort offered by drugs.

So for a barangay to be declared drug-free is an achievement indeed.

Of course, this isn’t yet final as the declaration has yet to be made. However, we’ll take this victory, any victory, in the war against drugs. In fact, we’ll take this piece of good news, any good news, considering what has been happening this year so far around the world and in our own backyard.

Let’s hope there will be more barangays waiting for the all-clear against drugs.