PDEA eyes hiring more agents in anti-drug war

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 7 (PNA) – The  Philippine drug enforcement in Eastern Visayas is aiming to double its manpower to succeed its anti-drug war in the region.

PDEA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Jubay said their regional office has only 34 agents, making them incapable of covering all the 139 towns and seven cities in six provinces of region 8.

“Hopefully, our 34 agents will become 50, then 75, and then 100.  Even if only a small number of additional agents would be added there would be an improvement,” Jubay told reporters.

Manpower constraints, according to the PDEA Regional chief, is a major setback in their bid to wipe out the illegal drugs problem.

“Considering our limited resources, manpower, mobility and budget, we need to strategize to cover all the services we need to deliver,” he added.

The officials is optimistic that with President Rodrigo Duterte’s thrust to end the drug menace, PDEA will be able to hire new agents next year.

The region has been listed a priority for the construction of a new office building in this city, according to Jubay.  Currently, the PDEA regional office here only rents a house in Marasbaras District as its office.

The new building here will be funded through a PHP1.5 billion proposed budget next year for the expansion and modernization of PDEA field offices.

From the PHP608 million nationwide outlay this year, PDEA will have a PHP2 billion funding in 2017, accoding to Jubay.

“This is to catch up with the intensified efforts of the government of the national war on drugs campaign,” he said.

Jubay is optimistic that with this additional budget, augmentation of their manpower capabilities would come in. (PNA)

LAP/SQM/Jonabel L. Salazar,LNU intern/egr