Village sets 'food for work' program for drugs suspects
- Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2016/07/13/village-sets-food-work-program-drugs-suspects-485128
- Wednesday, July 13, 2016
- By Reynaldo G. Navales
ANGELES CITY--An official of a barangay situated in the city's entertainment district is set to implement "Food for Work" program for individuals who surrendered and enrolled under the government's reformation program for drugs personalities.
Reynaldo Nacu Gueco, chairman of Barangay Malabanias, said the surrenderees will be tapped for the village's clean and green program.
"We clean our streets and drainage every week and they (surrenderees) will join our street sweepers and volunteers in our clean and green project," Gueco said.
The village chief said that he will coordinate with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) for the food packages they will distribute to the participants.
"I believe that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has an existing 'Food for Work' program. All we have to do is coordinate with them for our project for the surrenderees," Gueco said.
Local government units (LGUs) have yet to include budgets to implement the program for surrenderees, according to Gueco. "We do not have any budget for this as of the moment, so we will be needing the support of the city government."
Gueco earlier lauded President Duterte for the substantial decrease in the crime volume following the nationwide crackdown against illegal drugs.
He said that the crime volume in the city particularly in his barangay has significantly dropped since the President and the Philippine National Police (PNP) started conducting anti-drugs operations.
According to Gueco, majority of the crimes committed are "drug-related."
More than 200 drug personalities recently surrendered to barangay officials and enrolled under the reform program, the barangay chairman said.
"We conducted profiling on the drug pushers and users in our barangay and we are continuously monitoring their activities and movements," Gueco said in the vernacular.
"Our barangay is now peaceful. Our problem on drugs and crimes is gone. And we would like to thank our beloved president for the realization of this big change he promised us," he added.
In his village alone, Gueco said a group of notorious drug peddlers and hold up men was neutralized after two of its members were killed during a recent encounter with elements of the Police Station 4.