ILOILO City – Concepcion in the province of Iloilo was declared a drug-cleared municipality yesterday by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
It was the first town in northern Iloilo to achieve such status, according to PDEA Region 6 director Alex Tablate.
Concepcion met all the parameters, said Mayor Raul Banias. These were the following:
* non-availability of illegal drugs
* absence of drug dens, pushers and users
* absence of clandestine drug laboratories
* active involvement of barangay 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
Tablate said the regional oversight committee (RAC) on illegal drugs assessed Concepcion, also the seventh town in Iloilo to be declared drug-free this 2020.
“We are happy clearing another town of illegal drugs. We are winning the war. More towns would be declared drug-cleared this year,” said Tablate.
Banias said the 25 villages of Concepcion were cooperative.
“We are thankful for the support of barangay officials, Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils and the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council,” said Banias.
He also cited the police.
But the work is not over, Banias stressed. The challenge now is maintaining the town’s drug-free status.
Also yesterday, the Balay Silangan drug rehabilitation center was inaugurated in Concepcion.
It would have an initial 13 clients, said Banias./PN
