The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) and members of the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) from the 21 towns and two cities of the province used their creative side to remind the public to avoid addictive substances.

While passing through the busy highway between Camp Valentin S. Juan and the Schools Division of Laoag City, passersby could hardly miss the murals that adorn the walls of the provincial police headquarters that span about 200 meters from the camp gate to the police cooperative building.

“Thank you for always bringing out the best of our youth against drugs and terrorism,” Mayor Mary Chrislyn Abadilla of Banna town said on Tuesday as she posted on her official Facebook account the impressive output of the KKDAT-Banna Chapter from the two-day mural painting contest.

During the weekend, the INPPO sponsored the painting contest enjoining the youth to showcase their talent in art.

Provincial police director Julius Suriben said most of the work, from imagining the design to painting it on the wall of the police compound was done by the participating youth organization with active chapters scattered in various parts of the province.

He said the paintings were inspired by the theme, “KASIMBAYANAN, bida ka sa pagkamit ng drug-free Ilocos Norte.”

Kasimbayanan, which stands for Kapulisan, Simbahan, and Pamayanan, aims for a revitalized partnership among various stakeholders to promote peace and development.

Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc earlier reminded local authorities not to be complacent even if the crime volume in the province decreased by 16 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. (PNA)