Misamis Gov gathers mayors to push for stronger anti-drug efforts and public safety

Misamis Occidental-  It was supposed to be a quiet Black Saturday. But while most local governments were on break, Governor Henry Oaminal had other plans. In a move that sent a clear signal of urgency, Oaminal convened all mayors and board members of Misamis Occidental over the Holy Week weekend to confront a critical question: Is the province doing enough to protect its people from drugs and crime?

The answer, according to him, is not yet — and it’s time to double down. At the center of the governor’s message was a challenge — one that goes beyond the usual rhetoric of “war on drugs.”

Oaminal urged local leaders to intensify grassroots enforcement, empower communities, and make use of all government resources to keep the province safe and its people engaged in the process.

“Progress is meaningless if our people are afraid to walk the streets,” Oaminal told the mayors. “We cannot allow complacency to undo what we’ve built under Asenso Misamis Occidental.”

The meeting, which took place during a period traditionally reserved for reflection and rest, speaks volumes about how the provincial government is prioritizing public safety as a non-negotiable pillar of development.

While the anti-drug campaigns of the past have been marred by questions of excess and accountability, Oaminal appears to be taking a more multi-faceted route:

• Community involvement as a frontline defense,

• Resource mobilization at the LGU level,

• Tighter coordination with police and barangay officials, and • A push for proactive governance over reactive responses. It’s a strategy that mirrors Oaminal’s broader governance brand — assertive, visible, and progress-driven, often blending social programs with hardline public order initiatives. However, the challenge remains: how can urgency, human rights, efficiency, and inclusiveness be balanced? Oaminal’s call also comes at a politically crucial time. With the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, leaders across the province are under pressure to demonstrate results, especially in areas long plagued by drugs.

For Oaminal, whose Asenso Misamis Occidental program has earned praise for infrastructure and health developments, public safety is the next frontier.

“If we want to protect everything we’ve achieved — from education to healthcare to economic progress — we must first protect our people. That’s the foundation,” he said. Whether Oaminal’s call leads to stronger enforcement or meaningful reforms will depend on how mayors translate that call into action on the ground — especially in communities where trust in law enforcement remains fragile.

But one thing is clear: in Misamis Occidental, the fight for peace and order isn’t taking a holiday. And for Governor Oaminal, that’s exactly how it should be.