BOGO CITY became the first city in Central Visayas and the second nationwide to be declared drug-cleared.
Bogo City Mayor Carlo Martinez and Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III led on Friday the ceremony declaring the whole city composed of 29 barangays as drug-cleared.
“For us to succeed in our efforts to destroy this curse on illegal drugs, we need a strong two-pronged approach on this matter—the enforcement of the law and your so-called ReRe or Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program,” Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño said.
ReRe is the city of Bogo’s community-based treatment program where recovering addicts meet regularly to help each other stay clean and build a new life.
Taliño read a message from Police Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa, where the latter congratulated Bogo on its achievement and where he also said the bigger job is to maintain and sustain the achievement.
The ceremony was witnessed by Provincial Board ex-officio Member Celestino Martinez III, barangay captain of Cayang and the president of the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay and the provincial federation; Cebu Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Eric Noble; Ana Lynn Hernandez of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7; and Dr. Soccoro Enterra of the Department of Health-7.
Also in attendance were members of the City Council, barangay captains and members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, drug warriors, drug surrenderees and the chiefs of police of northern Cebu towns.
Earlier the same day, the new Bogo City Police Station building was inaugurated inside Camp Don Pedro Rodriguez.
Mayor Carlo Martinez also turned over 19 bulletproof vests bought by the city government to Supt. Byron Allatog, Bogo City’s chief of police, for the city’s SWAT squad.