ILOILO City – Four out of 180 villages in this capital city have now been certified as “drug-cleared,” Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) city director Ferdinand Panes announced Thursday.
The Regional Oversight Committee earlier declared barangays Libertad and Luna in Jaro and Sampaguita in City Proper as cleared of illegal drugs.
The latest addition to these drug-cleared villages is Barangay Quezon in Arevalo district, announced in a City Peace and Order Council meeting last month.
“Three applied, only one passed,” Panes said. The two other barangays that fell short were Housing Block 17 and Pali in Mandurriao district.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) earlier said the city’s 180 barangays will have to undergo the “drug-clearing” process again after it revised its guidelines.
But according to Panes, PDEA failed to follow Resolution No. 3 of the Dangerous Drugs Board, which requires it to issue a certification to revoke a previous “drug-cleared” certification.
“I supposed last year’s validation was considered because there was no revocation,” he said.
But Panes added that they will still encourage barangays to re-apply for validation with the Regional Oversight Committee.
With the latest result, Panes said the city government will have a point for the Seal of Good Local Governance for 2019.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Anti-Drug Abuse Council was among the 17 antidrug councils of highly-urbanized cities that received the National ADAC Performance Award on Dec. 28 at the Manila Hotel in Manila.
The award recognizes the exemplary efforts of local government units through their respective ADACs, in complementing the effort of the national government in the fight against illegal drugs. (With a report from PNA/PN)
