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PDEA to put up satellite offices in NCR, highly urbanized cities
“To effectively and efficiently address the drug problem and facilitate collaboration with other stakeholders in the national anti-drug campaign, it is deemed necessary to establish 81 Provincial Offices, five NCR District Offices and 33 Highly Urbanized City (HUC) Offices,” said PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña, citing the Agency’s Memorandum Circular No. 2017-016 dated February 23, 2017. (Photo: PDEA)
MANILA—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will set up provincial offices, district offices within the National Capital Region (NCR) and highly urbanized city offices nationwide.
“To effectively and efficiently address the drug problem and facilitate collaboration with other stakeholders in the national anti-drug campaign, it is deemed necessary to establish 81 Provincial Offices, five NCR District Offices and 33 Highly Urbanized City (HUC) Offices,” said PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña, citing the Agency’s Memorandum Circular No. 2017-016 dated February 23, 2017.
The Circular aims to strengthen further the organizational structure and staffing pattern of PDEA to boost its readiness in the intensified war on drugs in the country.
The functions and responsibilities of these component offices are as follows:
- Gather intelligence data and conduct intelligence activities with other law enforcement agencies and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);
- Conduct intensified anti-drug operations in the area;
- Supervise and lead anti-drug operations conducted by other operating units in the area;
- Coordinate with the local government units, other law enforcement agencies and AFP in the implementation of various drug prevention and control programs, in particular barangay drug-clearing program; and
- Coordinate with other government agencies for the implementation of anti-drug advocacy activities.
“Presently, PDEA has 18 regional offices (ROs) across the country. Only ROs which have established Offices with ready facilities and enough Drug Enforcement Officers, or DEOs, shall fully implement the Circular,” Lapeña said.
If the RO is yet to establish and identify facility for its provincial/district/HUC Offices, it may first establish an Office in the priority area covering two or more provinces/HUCs to be occupied with enough manpower until such time the RO is capable to fully establish offices in all areas,” he added.
PDEA Regional Directors shall be responsible in providing and identifying the possible locations of these Offices, each manned by not less than six DEOs.
The fund and logistical requirements for the establishment of the Offices will come from the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City subject to existing Agency’s policies and standards.
“The establishment of PDEA Provincial/District/HUC Offices will further accelerate and improve our delivery of public services nationwide. More centralized anti-drug efforts mean more effective drug law enforcement,” the PDEA chief said, adding that there are currently 33 HUCs in the Philippines, 16 of which are located in Metro Manila.
“These HUCs are bustling centers for trade, commerce and industry, and are populated. Business is good for drug syndicates in these places where the illegal drug trade is highly profitable. That is why setting up PDEA offices in HUCs is a sound move to keep a close eye on them,” he said
