ILOILO – The municipality of Barotac Viejo had all its 26 barangays cleared of illegal drugs.
On Monday, the Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) declared the town’s two remaining barangays as “drug-cleared”, according to Mayor Nielo “Bongbong” Tupas.
“Drug-cleared na ang barangays Poblacion kag Natividad,” Tupas told Panay News. “So subong gin-declare na as drug-free municipality ang Barotac Viejo.”
Barangays Poblacion and Natividad underwent rigorous assessment by the ROC on Dangerous Drugs chaired by Director Edgar Apalla of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 6.
Under Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017 and the Omnibus Procedures in Declaring a Drug Affected Barangay as Drug Cleared, a village can be declared drug-cleared or free from illegal drug activities if it meets the following parameters:
* 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
Mayor Tupas recognized the efforts of all local officials, punong barangays and his constituents in supporting the local government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Subong nga drug-cleared municipality na kita, duty sang isa kag isa sa amon bilang municipal and local officials and punong barangay nga bantayan ang ila mga tawo para ma-sustain ang status,” Tupas said.
“Maglikaw kita sa illegal drugs kay makapaguba ina sang aton bwas damlag,” the mayor added.
Also present in the ROC deliberation were Police Lieutenant Colonel Victorino Romanillos Jr., officer-in-charge of the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division of the Police Regional Office 6; John Richard Lapascua, senior health program officer of the Department of Health in Region 6; and Karen Joy Mansuelo of the Department of Interior and Local Government Region 6./PN
