The Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) convened on September 19, 2024, at Balingway Hall for their quarterly meeting. The session was presided over by Mayor Bernard S. Waclin and facilitated by Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Julie Malig.
The joint meeting aimed to address issues related to peace, order, and drug abuse. Attendees included barangay officials, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Group (EOD-K9), and concerned department heads.
Itogon Police Chief Mac Kenley Mayomis highlighted the municipality’s ongoing efforts to eradicate drug-related activities. He noted that most individuals involved in these activities come from nearby towns.
Poblacion Punong Barangay Flordeliza Depayso shared that stricter regulations on the entry of migrant workers would soon be implemented by the Poblacion Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU).
In relation, the Itogon MPOC-MADAC passed a resolution requesting that mining associations and companies in Itogon consider mandatory drug testing for new members and regular follow-up testing. This resolution will be submitted to the Sanggunian Bayan Office for review and potential enactment.
Rural Health Physician Dr. Marie Jorelyn Bahingawan and Social Welfare Head Grace Pocsol provided updates on the progress of drug surrenderees enrolled in the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program (CBDRP), which aims to prevent relapse through community-based treatment.
On the issue of safety, Fire Marshal Edgardo Reduca emphasized stricter enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines. He stressed that all buildings, regardless of type, are required to have at least one fire prevention and suppression system. Reduca cited a recent fire in Tuding, where a smoke detector could have significantly reduced property damage.
Mayor Waclin underscored the importance of collaborative efforts and strategies to effectively combat drug-related activities in the municipality. He also acknowledged the accomplishments reported by the nine barangays during the meeting.
