DDB to provide aid to farmers in 3 towns

CEBU - The Dangerous Drugs Board will provide financial assistance to farmers in the towns of Badian, Dalaguete and Balamban in Cebu to encourage them to engage in legitimate livelihood instead of cultivating marijuana plants.

DDB Undersecretary Clarence Paul Oaminal said the granting of financial assistance for Badian and Balamban was already approved by the DDB Manila office. But he said he would strongly recommend that Dalaguete be included in the grant.

Oaminal said each of the municipalities will receive a grant of at least P500,000 to help finance livelihood projects for farmers.

He said local officials in Balamban recommended that their farmers be taught on abaca planting. Badian town officials will be also asked to suggest what kind of livelihood grant to be given to their farmers.

Oaminal said the DDB officials believed that some farmers are forced to engage in illegal livelihood such as cultivating marijuana in order to have additional income.

Last November 14, a joint team from the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Dalaguete Police Station uprooted 561 stalks of fully grown marijuana plants in barangay Tabon, Dalaguete.

The team also arrested the alleged marijuana cultivator Jose Ramos, who is now charged before the court for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs law.

Oaminal and Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria yesterday distributed certificates of recognition to six policemen and two PDEA agents who uprooted the prohibited plants.

Valmoria claimed that the CPPO is “gaining” ground in the fight against illegal drugs, saying since January, his men have already arrested 300 persons - 121 pushers and 179 users.

A total of 239 cases were filed in court and about P1.2 million worth of drugs had been seized.

Valmoria said the CPPO is prioritizing the campaign against illegal drugs, claiming that 80 percent of the crimes committed are drug-related. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM (THE FREEMAN)