The more than 1,000 baragay captains and the 48 mayors in the province will converge today to formally seal their drug rehabilitation program.

DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno will be arriving at 9 o’clock this morning to meet with the local officials who will present the Community Based Drug Rehabilitation Program Without Walls.  The design of the elaborate rehab program was formally approved yesterday during the joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Prov’l Anti Drug Council chaired by Gov. Edgar Chatto.

Upon arrival, the DILG secretary will meet with the special action committee of the PPOC at the Governor’s Mansion after which he will address the various line agencies under the DILG to include the Philippine National Police. He will meet with all the municipal DILG officers and the PNP station commanders.

At 2:30 this afternoon, Sec. Sueno will keynote the Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay Congrees to be attended by the 1,109 strong barangay captains throughout the province.  The 3-day congress is led by Liga President ,Provincial Board Member Romulo Cepedoza.

The DILG secretary will separately meet with the 48 mayors together with the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan at 5:30 this afternoon at the Bohol Tropics Resort Club.

Sec. Sueno is expected to hear the overall drug rehabilitation program coordinated by the provincial government.

During yesterday’s joint meeting, newly installed Bishop Alberto Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran and Bishop Daniel Patrick Parcon of the Diocese of Talibon were in attendance after the “Talibon experience” in the drug rehab program (without walls) was adopted with some innovations by the provincial leadership.

Bishops Uy and Parcon were elated to be informed by Gov. Edgar Chatto who presided the meeting that the “Talibon experience” introduced by the diocese was adopted with some innovations.

For his part, Bishop Parcon expressed appreciation for President Duterte’s “political will” in implementing an all-out war on illegal drugs.

The joint meeting of the two big councils of the provincial government was the first event of its kind attended by the Church leaders in Bohol.

On hand to discuss salient matters on the campaign against drugs were Dr. Yul Lopez on health, Prov’l DSWD Officer Nita Tecson on social programs , Liza Quirog on community based involvement.

Gov. Chatto said the major role in this “without walls” drug rehabilitation program are the town mayors and baragay captains.

The two bishops likewise hope that the program on anti-drugs which is very much needed at this point in time should not be “politicalized” as this is primarily aimed to generate the support of everyone irregardless of political affiliations down in the barangay level.