Tinglayan councils seek provincial government-led, multi-agency push vs marijuana cultivation

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga — The Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) are asking the Provincial Government under Governor James S. Edduba to take over the chairmanship of Task Force Chumanchil to strengthen the fight against marijuana cultivation in Tinglayan.

The joint councils approved a resolution during their third-quarter meeting on October 5 at the Tinglayan Municipal Hall, saying the province needs stronger leadership and coordination to address the municipality’s persistent marijuana plantation problem.

The councils said placing the task force under Edduba’s leadership would help mobilize provincial resources and bring together government programs on infrastructure, agriculture, livelihood, social services, environmental protection, peace and order and other interventions needed to address the problem.

“The assumption of the Chairmanship of Task Force Chumanchil by the Honorable Provincial Governor will further strengthen inter-governmental coordination and convergence of resources between the provincial government, municipal government, national government agencies, law enforcement agencies, and affected communities,” the resolution stated.

The councils stressed that the response should not be limited to the destruction of marijuana plantations and enforcement operations, but should also address the conditions that drive communities to cultivate the illegal crop.

Among the proposed interventions are farm-to-market roads, agricultural assistance, alternative livelihood programs, capacity building, community-based development and stronger coordination among law enforcement agencies.

Task Force Chumanchil was created through Executive Order No. 21, series of 2022, as a multi-sectoral body composed of representatives from national government agencies, local government units, security forces, civil society and community stakeholders.

It is tasked with formulating a comprehensive development plan to address the marijuana problem in Tinglayan, conducting consultations, mobilizing support, monitoring programs and projects, preparing funding proposals and recommending strategies for implementation.

The joint councils said the provincial government is in a stronger position to mobilize resources and coordinate the various development interventions needed to complement anti-drug operations.

Beyond eradication

The call comes as Tinglayan continues to be a major focus of marijuana eradication operations in Kalinga.

In May 2026, police and other law enforcement units destroyed more than 1.14 million fully grown marijuana plants worth an estimated ₱228 million in 10 plantation sites covering about 9.5 hectares in Mt. Chumanchil, Barangay Loccong.

Earlier, authorities also reported the destruction of 159,100 fully grown marijuana plants worth ₱31.76 million in 20 eradication operations in Tinglayan from December 16, 2025 to January 6, 2026.

The repeated operations highlight the difficulty of permanently eliminating marijuana cultivation in the remote mountain communities.

Government officials have previously pointed to the lack of alternative sources of income as one of the factors behind the persistence of marijuana farming.

In January 2023, the Philippine Information Agency reported that Task Force Chumanchil was developing a comprehensive plan for Mt. Chumanchil that included ecotourism and other livelihood opportunities. It said creating new livelihood opportunities could help address the long-running marijuana cultivation problem because the illegal crop had become a major source of income for some residents.

The task force’s proposed approach therefore sought to complement eradication with development, including livelihood opportunities for communities in and around Mt. Chumanchil.

More recent government discussions on marijuana cultivation in the Cordillera have likewise emphasized the need to address economic vulnerability and limited livelihood options, with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and anti-drug authorities promoting a whole-of-government approach that combines enforcement with infrastructure, agricultural assistance and sustainable livelihood programs.

The Tinglayan MPOC-MADAC resolution will be transmitted to the Kalinga Provincial Peace and Order Council for review and approval.