(MB FILE PHOTO)
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it continues to fight the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country as it marked its 23rd founding anniversary on Friday, July 4.
PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez said that the agency had overcome every challenge hurled against it and turned them into opportunities to be better and stronger in building safe and drug-free communities in the past two decades.
He stressed that the PDEA “continues to tread an unyielding path” towards the Marcos administration's vision of a Bagong Pilipinas. The theme for this year's anniversary was “Matatag na PDEA! Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Pamayanan ay Ligtas.”
“It is more than just an anniversary celebration. It is a celebration of our cause grounded in courage and belief, an undertaking that demands nothing less than our best. We take pride in not only in the years we have served, but in the lives we have touched, the communities we have protected and the future of Filipinos we persevere to secure,” Nerez stated.
During the celebration, the PDEA honored its personnel and offices for their “exemplary performance that goes beyond their duties.”
The anti-drug agency also recognized its foreign and local counterparts and partner agencies for their unwavering support to the country’s anti-drug campaign.
Among the highlights of the program was the showing of an audio-visual presentation, narrating the director general’s executive report on the PDEA’s anti-drug accomplishments for the year.
The PDEA chief assured that more communities would be under the Bagong Pilipinas as they continue a relentless but bloodless campaign against illegal drugs.
Key PDEA officials, personnel and esteemed guests led by guest of honor and speaker Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin were present during the celebration.