by Eva Visperas
Ten barangays of Sto. Tomas were formally declared drug-free during the flag-raising ceremony held on the first Monday of March.
Provincial Officer Dexter Asayco and Information Officer Glaiza Rose Abalos-Jumawan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Pangasinan awarded the Resolutions from the Regional Oversight Committee for the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, confirming the Verification of Drug-Free Status of the 10 barangays in the municipality.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Mayor Timoteo Villar III and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, demonstrating the unified support of the local leadership for the municipality’s anti-drug campaign.
Mayor Dickerson Villar commended the 10 barangays for their dedication and collective efforts in maintaining peace and order in their respective communities. He encouraged them to remain steadfast in strengthening their anti-criminality and anti-drug initiatives to ensure the continued safety and well-being of the people of Sto. Tomas.
The mayor also expressed his sincere gratitude to PDEA for its unwavering support and strong partnership with the local government in promoting a safer and drug-free municipality.
It may be recalled that even during the administration of then Mayor Antonio Villar and his wife, Mayor Vivien Villar, Sto. Tomas had already been consistently recognized as a drug-free municipality — underscoring the town’s longstanding commitment to the fight against illegal drugs.