BAGUIO CITY — A senior Cordillera police official emphasized a comprehensive government strategy, in collaboration with the private sector, to provide livelihood assistance and curb marijuana cultivation in the provinces of Benguet and Kalinga. The initiative aims to address the root causes of poverty which lead locals to engage in illegal cultivation.
According to Philippines News Agency, Director of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-Cor), the persistent issue of marijuana cultivation is largely driven by economic necessity. "The problem is poverty. People plant marijuana because they need to live, they want to have money for their basic needs, and planting vegetables will be difficult considering the absence of roads," Peredo explained during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing on Tuesday.
Peredo detailed the extensive destruction of illegal crops, noting that from July 22 to 28, 2024, government forces eradicated PHP16.41 million worth of marijuana plants in the targeted regions. He suggested reallocating funds intended for eradication to support community development through training, capacity building, and establishing market linkages. Peredo highlighted various government initiatives, including skills training by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, capacity building by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology, and infrastructure projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Tourism.
The difficult terrain of Mt. Chumanchill has made it challenging to apprehend cultivators, a factor that complicates enforcement efforts. During the briefing, Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera Director Araceli San Jose also spoke, referencing the formation of the Mt. Chumanchill Task Force in 2020, which was established by regional leaders, law enforcement agencies, and local government units to specifically address this issue. San Jose mentioned updates to the task force's comprehensive development plan, expressing hope for increased support from the national government.
"The proposals have been submitted to the Dangerous Drugs Board for funding, initially with the DOT proposal for the construction of a road. The implementation of the enhanced action plan will be integrated with other plans for a holistic approach," San Jose said. She detailed potential alternative livelihoods including animal raising, fish production, and orchid growing as sustainable substitutes for marijuana cultivation, as previously identified by former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera director Gil Castro.