BALANGA CITY – Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday lauded the programs of the Bataan provincial government on drugs and health that award P50, 000 monthly to any barangay with record of zero drugs and zero dengue, among others.
He was guest at the 4th anniversary celebration at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City of Bahay Pagbabago Reformation Center which he inaugurated while still Philippine National Police chief four years ago.
Dela Rosa and Gov. Albert Garcia handed Seal of Healthy Barangay and P50,000 -check to each of the four barangays that achieved zero dengue, animal bite and maternal death cases, drug-free and fewer diabetes cases with good measles immunization.
Barangays Palili and East Daan Bago in Samal town, and Wakas South and Panilao in Pilar were the first recipients of the awards for July.
The senator said a good governor motivates barangays officials for the benefit of villagers and that was what Garcia did.
“Ang sabi ni governor, I don’t care kung ma-bankrupt ang probinsya ng Bataan sa kabibigay ng P50,000 na incentives. Kung ang lahat ng barangay ay mananalo bahala na raw maubos ang pera ng provincial government basta ang importante masaya at maganda ang pamumuhay ng kanyang mga nasasakupan,” he enthused. “Ibang klaseng liderato ito, sana kopyahin ng lahat ng gobernador.”
He also told the drug reformists in jest, “ang mukha niyo noon ang dudumi, ngayon ang popogi na ninyo, ang gaganda na ng mga babae. So talagang nagbabago. Pagpasok niyo sa Bahay Pagbabago, talagang nagbabago ang buhay niyo.”
Dela Rosa recalled that he was in Bataan four years ago while still PNP Chief to inaugurate Bahay Pag-asa or Bahay Pagbabago in Limay, Bataan and other areas.
Police announced that some 5,600 individuals have graduated in the reformation program in Bataan since 2015 where the drug dependents underwent livelihood trainings, character development, counseling and physical exercises, among others.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported that of the 237 barangays in the province, 156 were already considered drug-free.
