Guv. envisions a Drug Free and Logging Free Davao Oriental

City of Mati, Davao Oriental – As she is starting her last term as Governor of the province of Davao Oriental, Gov. Corazon Malanyaon has two main goals in the pursuit of lasting peace and development, and the two main goals are embedded in the list of her development agenda.

In two different meetings, the Governor disclosed her ultimate desires for the province.
Presiding the recent meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, Malanyaon emphasized her dream of a drug-free Davao Oriental, and pushing a closer coordination between the court and law enforcers so drug related cases can be pursued and will not be dismissed just because of technicality.
“There should be a program, so apprehending officers and the prosecutors can really work closely, and for the cases filed not to be dismissed just because of technicality. There should be a dialogue and both parties can come up with remedial measures so they can work together with their competencies,” she said.
Regional Director Emerson Rosales of the Phil. Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-11, revealed that drug prevalence in Davao Oriental is just limited to street level pushing.

Rosales furthered that they are using three ways in attacking the drug menace anywhere. The first is supply reduction, then demand reduction, and capability enhancement of enforcers.
However, Gov. Malanyaon reiterated that in any level of its prevalence, she wants to get rid of the drug problem, understandably because of the ill effects it bring to the lives of those already hooked in the illegal drug use and trade.

“It seems the drug cases all over are getting out of proportion, and undeniably, its all over. And for Davao Oriental, how can we be drug free? As this is a very big challenge, but I know we can do something with the unified efforts of the PDEA, PNP, AFP, and other stakeholders,” she explained.
She also stressed the importance of reactivating the different anti-drug abuse councils down to the barangay level, to help in tracking down the users and the pushers.
In the Regional Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force meeting held at the Provincial Capitol last week with DENR Regional Director Joselin Marcus Fragada, Gov. Malanyaon poured her insights and sentiments on the illegal logging matter.

“There should be no reckless cutting of tress in these times when are doing our best towards a green Philippines, a green Davao Oriental. Particularly in tourism areas, cutting of trees is an absolute no. It defeats our purpose, as what we had started with our tree and scenic highways, she blurted out.
Malanyaon furthered that all harvestable species ought to have a work program also, and cutting needs to go through consultation, and lgu’s should be informed. That is why she is very keen on the compliance of the lgu’s on their forest land use plan. The Governor hopes compliance the soonest possible time, as she had expressed this again in an inter-phasing activity among the provincial officials and department heads of the province and the national agencies.

“The DENR did its part to help our province rise from the big fall we had from super typhoon Pablo. They took part of our Building Back Better efforts, and I am happy that the commitment of the DENR in helping remains. There has been so much enforcement. It pains me to see that will all our undertakings, we can still see hardships,” the Governor added.
Dir. Fragada commended the Governor for her passion with work, for Davao Oriental could not have moved on easily without such passion.

To this, Malanyaon gave a deep sigh, and with all the realities embracing the province, but the Governor never fails to exude optimism for the province and her people.
As what I’ve said, “we have to move on, and not just moving on but moving up”.