AGLIPAY, Quirino (PIA) - - Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Administration Police Lt. General Rhodel Orden Sermonia in his visit to the province yesterday has reminded the personnel of Quirino Police Provincial Office not to be complacent with the “drug-cleared” situation of the province.

“You are already a drug-cleared province and it doesn't mean that we need to relax.  We need to sustain our gains and we need to give more efforts in our strategies in demand reduction, especially on our effective awareness campaign and then the recovery and community-based reformation programs and those who wanted to surrender voluntarily,” Sermonia said.

Sermonia said the ‘Buhay Ingatan, Droga Ayawan’ or BIDA , a program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is an intensified and more holistic campaign against illegal drugs to reduce the demand in the communities.

“When I say demand reduction, it entails more on community partnership or fusion with the other agencies of the government like PDEA, NBI, and other law enforcement agencies and including that of the other agencies like DOH, TESDA, DSWD, DepEd, and concerned agencies,” Sermonia added.

The lieutenant general said it is through partnership that will bring success in the efforts in demand reduction.

“Here, the people who use drugs will be accorded with skills development trainings, moral and spiritual seminars as well as physical trainings so that finally they will become good and law abiding citizens,” Sermonia said.

Sermonia has acknowledged the support of Governor Dax Cua saying that without the support or a very strong partnership with the PLGU under the latter’s leadership, the PNP  cannot make it.

“You have a very beautiful province, you can promote eco-tourism in the province of Quirino for people to come here to enjoy the beautiful place, let us sustain the gains that we already have, the most peaceful province in the entire country, not just one of the most peaceful provinces,” Sermonia said which got a resounding “yes sir” response from Governor Cua.

Sermonia also thanked the governor for recognizing and acknowledging him as a Quirinian, having parents who met and started their teaching careers and family in Diffun.

“So with that, thank you very much, rest assured that the province of Quirino, specifically QPPO will be top on my priorities,” Sermonia added. (OTB/TCB/PIA Quirino)