TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office 2 and the City Government of Cauayan on August 24 to forge the strong commitment of both parties to sustain the ‘drug-cleared status’ of the city.

The MoA signing was headed by PDEA-2 Regional Director Levi S. Ortiz and Cauayan City Mayor Ceasar Dy Jr., witnessed by other LGU and PDEA officials.

Cauayan City, together with the City of Ilagan, were declared the first drug-cleared cities in the Cagayan Valley Region and in the country on June 27, after a thorough deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing.

"The efforts and cooperation of the police, LGU officials, and stakeholders have resulted in the declaration as drug-cleared cities of Cauayan and Ilagan after passing the requirement set by the oversight committee," Ortiz said during the declaration held in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Earlier, Dy said the city government will do its best to maintain its status as a drug-cleared city and called on all sectors in the to cooperate in maintaining its status as a drug-cleared city.

The declaration of drug-cleared cities and municipalities to the LGUs is part of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program based on Dangerous Drug Board Regulation No. 3 series of 2017, which aims to eradicate illegal drug activities in the barangays in the country. (OTB/MDCT/PIA Cagayan)