A whole-of-government approach is being adopted by the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to address illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and prohibited drugs in Pampanga.

In his speech during the distribution of financial aid to El Niño-hit farmers and fisherfolk in the province on Friday, President Marcos assured the government is responding to the challenges posed by these problems.

“Alam ko rin po, na labis ang inyong [pagkabahala] sa mga kriminalidad at iligal na mga gawain na sumisira sa kapayapaan ng inyong pamayanan. Nais ko pong ipaalam sa inyo na amin pong tinututukan at tinutugunan ang problemang ito,” the President said.

He said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has created a task force to address illegal POGOs while the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is in close coordination with other agencies to deal with prohibited drugs.

The President said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is taking the lead in the campaign against illegal drugs.

“Naririnig din namin ang inyong mga daing. Nakikita namin ang inyong mga sakripisyo. Ang inyong patuloy na pagsisikap sa araw-araw ay [ang] inyong tulong sa pagtataguyod ng ating pinapangarap na Bagong Pilipinas,” President Marcos said.

“[Makaaasa] kayo na buong puso at walang tigil kaming kikilos upang matamasa ninyo ang matamis na bunga ng inyong pagsisikap,” he added.

President Marcos led the distribution of financial aid to over 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk affected by the El Niño phenomenon in Pampanga. El Niño brought agricultural losses amounting to PhP367.54 million. *PND*