CEBU CITY – Lapu-Lapu City was recognized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for its “exemplary efforts” in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan received the award from DILG Lapu-Lapu City Officer-in-Charge Jonah Pino in a ceremony Wednesday.
“The 2019 National Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Award is hereby conferred to Local Government of Lapu-Lapu City for its exemplary efforts in the performance of its duties in completing the national government’s anti-illegal drug campaign,” read a portion of the texts written on the marker that Chan received.
The marker was signed by DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Catalino S. Cuy.
“This is a big honor for us with regards to the campaign against illegal drugs because we are the only LGU who received this kind of an award,” Chan said.
In receiving the award, the mayor congratulated the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP), and the LGU, especially the barangays, which were active in the fight against illegal drugs.
“This performance audit award is considered big points for an LGU and in fact, this is something that the national government wanted to focus on, to comply with these kinds of awards,” said Pino.
Pino said one of the favorable indicators that bolstered the city’s performance audit is Barangay Caohagan, which has been cleared of illegal drugs.
The barangay also received an special award for maintaining its status as drug unaffected in 2020.
Pino explained that Barangay Caohagan was cleared of drugs in 2019, thus earning the status of “unaffected.”
The barangay is being evaluated yearly to determine if it was able to sustain its status.
“The national government has given an award to Barangay Caoghagan and City of Lapu-Lapu for maintaining the status of Barangay Caohagan as drug-cleared from 2019 to 2020,” said Pino.
CLOSAP Executive Director Garry Lao said the award is also attributed to the city’s efforts to maintain a drug-free workplace as well its anti-drug information education campaign in schools and barangays, community-based drug rehabilitation program, and the after-care rehabilitation program.
Pino said it was not the first that the DILG awarded the city with a marker as it has previously given the city a Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) marker.