ILOILO City – Of the 137 barangays which sought to be officially declared as now free from illegal drugs, only 64 got the nod of the regional oversight committee on the campaign against illegal drugs.
According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6) spokesperson Shey Tanaleon, the 64 barangays met the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
One of the parameters was the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers. Many barangay applicants failed to meet this requirement.
PDEA-6 is the lead agency of the regional oversight committee. The body held a meeting yesterday and announced the drug-cleared status of the 64 barangays.
Western Visayas has a total of 4,051 barangays.
The 64 freshly drug-cleared barangays were from Capiz (16), Antique (three), Guimaras (two), Aklan (12), Iloilo province (25), and Iloilo City (one each from Arevalo and City Proper districts, and two each from La Paz and Jaro districts).
The 25 drug-cleared barangays in Iloilo province were from the towns of Pototan (15), San Enrique (four), Tigbauan (four), and Santa Barbara (two).
There are now a total of 3,159 drug-cleared barangays in Region 6.
The other parameters barangays must meet to achieve a drug-cleared status are the following:
* non-availability of illegal drugs
* absence of drug dens, pushers and users, protectors or financiers
* absence of clandestine drug laboratories, warehouses, marijuana cultivation sites
* no drug transit or transshipment activity
* active involvement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in anti-drug activities
* conduct of drug awareness, preventive education and information campaign
* operation of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk
The regional oversight committee is made up of PDEA-6, regional offices of the Department of Health and Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Police Regional Office 6./PN
