Alternative livelihood offered for marijuana farmers

CEBU, Philippines - Dangerous Drugs Board Secretary Vicente Sotto III has ordered to expedite the implementation of the agency’s alternative development program for farmers caught involved in the planting of marijuana.

The former senator has made this order to DDB Undersecretary Clarence Paul Oaminal after he read the news on the recent joint operation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 and the Philippine Army that led to the confiscation of more than 1,000 stalks of marijuana in Badian town in Cebu province.

Sotto, upon his appointment last year as head of the country’s highest policy making on drugs, has made his priority the giving of assistance to farmers involved in marijuana plantation. Due to his effort, Benguet, which has been considered one of the biggest marijuana producers in the country, has been declared “marijuana free.” Many believed it would be impossible to clear the area of marijuana as it is considered the “marijuana capital of the Philippines” but Sotto has done it.

Sotto was in Balamban recently to personally supervise the training of farmers in alternative livelihood like abaca planting.

Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay has confirmed the positive result of the program, which he said, has worked well as there are only about two or three barangays where there are marijuana plantations. The mayor believes they could be eradicated this year.

Sotto suggested to the mayors of Badian and Dalaguete and other towns in Cebu to submit their request for financial assistance through Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and attach the report of the Police Provincial Police Office and that of the PDEA on the existence and extent of marijuana plantation in their area.

The DDB chief vows to implement the program not only in Balamban but to all areas in Cebu, including Cebu City. In November, he plans to meet with the governor and the mayors to finalize the implementation of the alternative program.

Sotto believes that arresting marijuana planters would not solve the problem, but giving them a substantive alternative program would end the vicious cycle of the farmers. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)