REGIONAL OFFICE PROFILE

Diosdado Macapagal Regional Government Center Brgy. Maimpis, City of San Fernando

BRIEF HISTORY

Republic Act 9165 or otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 was signed into by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 7, 2002. The new anti-drug law repealed Republic Act 6425 or known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.

The effectivity of RA 9165 on July 07, 2002, gave birth to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) which serves as the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB); it is responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the provisions on dangerous drugs, controlled precursors as provided in the Act. Section 84 of RA 9165 provides, among others, that PDEA shall establish and maintain regional offices in the different regions of the country which shall be responsible for the implementation of said law and its policies, programs, and projects in the respective regions. Pursuant to the aforecited provision of law, seventeen (17) regional offices including RO III was established.

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

PDEA Regional Office 3 covers seven (7) provinces, namely: Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, Bulacan, and Tarlac; 128 Municipalities/Cities and two (2) chartered cities; Angeles City and Olongapo City, and 3,102 Barangays.

Region 3 lies at the heart of Luzon. It has the largest contiguous lowland in Philippine Archipelago. Its total mass of 1.8 million or 18,230 square meters is 7.1 percent of the total land area of the country.

Only 66 kilometers away from Metro , Central Luzon contains the largest plain in the country and is the gateway to the Northern Luzon regions. It covers a total land area of 21,470 square kilometers. The City of San Fernando, Pampanga is the regional center of Central Luzon.