BORACAY – Five more villages in the towns of Malay and Kalibo in this province have recently been declared free from illegal drugs.
A drug cleared barangay is previously classified as drug-affected, then subjected to drug clearing operations and eventually declared free from any illegal drug activities.
There are now 11 barangays in Kalibo who are in drug-clear status after Old Buswang, New Buswang and Bakhaw Norte satisfied the parameters of the committee composed of the Department of Health, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Interior and Local Government on Feb. 27.
The parameters were the active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities and other programs, no drug laboratories, marijuana cultivation sites, drug dens, protector, financier, and drug pusher/user and the non-availability of drug supply in the barangays under the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation 3 Series of 2017, or Strengthening the Implementation of Barangay Drug Clearing Program.
The other drug free barangays in the town of Kalibo are Tinigaw, Caano, Mobo, Bakhaw Sur, Linabuan Norte, Briones, Nalook and Mabilo. The barangays of Poblacion, Andagao, Pook, Estancia and Tigayon, on the other hand, are yet to be cleared of drugs.
In mainland Malay, meanwhile, there were two more barangays that were cleared of illegal drugs. They were Barangay Balusbos and Barangay Motag, according to the 19th regional oversight committee deliberation in Iloilo City.
Other drug cleared barangays in Malay town are Kabulihan, Nabaoy, Sambiray, Cogon, Dumlog and Naasug.
The barangays of Yapak, Manocmanoc and Balabag in Boracay Island and six more barangays in mainland Malay have not been given the green light so far.(With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
