ANGELES CITY – The Angeles City Government is now officially recognized as a Drug-Free Workplace, following the unanimous approval of Resolution No. 001, Series of 2025 by the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ACADAC) on June 20, 2025.
The resolution was moved by IA III Amir M. Estanislao of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Pampanga Provincial Office and seconded by City Information Officer-in-Charge Arnel San Pedro, and later signed by Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr., ACPO Director PCOL Joselito E. Villarosa, and ACADAC Secretariat Head Richard Alan E. Saul.
As his term nears its end, Mayor Lazatin regards this milestone as one of his administration’s defining legacies saying “Ang deklarasyong ito bilang isang Drug-Free Workplace ay hindi lamang compliance — ito ay paninindigan. Isa ito sa mga pamana ng ating administrasyon — na sa loob ng pamahalaan mismo magsisimula ang disiplina at kalinisan laban sa ilegal na droga. Ipinagmamalaki kong iiwan sa mga Angeleño ang isang City Hall na ligtas, malinis, at may malasakit sa kinabukasan.”
“Lubos po ang aking pasasalamat sa lahat ng miyembro ng ACADAC sa pangunguna ni Richard Alan Saul dahil sa inyong malasakit at dedikasyon, naisakatuparan natin ang layuning ito para sa isang mas ligtas na pamahalaan at lipunan. Gayundin po sa ating partners mula sa PDEA at Angeles City Police Office. Hindi magiging posible ito kung wala ang pagkakaisa nating lahat,” Mayor Lazatin added.
This declaration reflects Angeles City’s compliance with national mandates such as Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), DDB Regulation No. 2, s. 2004, DILG-DOH-DOJ-PDEA-CSC JRMC 2024-01, and Executive Order No. 03, Series of 2023, which require the implementation of comprehensive drug-free workplace programs and random drug testing in government institutions.
As part of its sustained anti-drug campaign, Mayor Lazatin’s administration conducted mandatory drug testing for all 4,491 City Hall employees. Those who tested positive were not abandoned but instead rehabilitated through the Balay Silangan Reformation Program, under the direct supervision of ACADAC, and referred to the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center in Magalang, Pampanga for further recovery.
Additionally, Mayor Lazatin spearheaded the drug testing of 5,790 barangay officials, and launched “Oplan Harabas,” a community-wide testing initiative targeting 11,485 tricycle drivers and 1,373 jeepney drivers, patterned after PDEA’s flagship program.
Mayor Lazatin also established the Balay Silangan Reformation Center, the first LGU-managed rehabilitation hub in Angeles City modeled after PDEA standards, which is being supervised by his Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, former PDEA Director III and Deputy Director General for Administration and Chief-of-Staff.
To date, 524 drug offenders successfully graduated at the Balay Silangan Reformation Center.
To ensure sustained enforcement, Mayor Lazatin created a PDEA satellite office inside City Hall — strengthening coordination between local authorities and national enforcement agencies.
These programs are institutionalized under Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 733, Series of 2025, which ensures continuity and funding for the city’s anti-drug initiatives even beyond the current administration.
The resolution mandates all ACADAC member offices to maintain drug-free environments in their respective departments.
