ILOILO – Barangay councils must make the eradication of illegal drugs in their turfs one of their priorities, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
While the government’s campaign is gaining headway, there is still much to do, he stressed.
Iloilo province has 1,721 barangays in 42 municipalities and the component city of Passi.
“The Duterte administration done much but I think there is no clear indication yet that the proliferation of illegal drugs could be completely stopped. So we must do everything,” according to Defensor.
The governor said barangay officials certainly knew the adverse effects of illegal drugs in their areas.
“I am asking the barangay captains to help us in campaign against illegal drugs,” said Defensor.
Barangay officials will officially start their new three-year terms on June 30.
The Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), too, sought the help of barangay officials in the antidrug drive.
According to PDEA regional director Wardley Getalla, barangay drug abuse councils (BADACs) must be more proactive.
Among others, said Getalla, his office looked forward to the BADACs’ submission of drug watch lists.
“’Yung barangay captains and barangay councilmen na hindi aktibo sa program ng BADAC, ‘yung hindi nagpapasa ng list of suspected drug personalities or watch lists ay kakasohan natin nga administratibo,” said Getalla.
Since January of this year, 111 barangays in Western Visayas have been cleared of illegal drugs, according to PDEA.
The Barangay Drug Clearing Program – Oversight Committee (BDCP-ROC) made a series of validations before making the declarations, said PDEA deputy regional director Thesa Albano.
The BDCP-ROC is made up of PDEA, Police Regional Office 6, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Department of Health.
Albano said 340 more barangays may be declared cleared of illegal drugs after validations.
Western Visayas is made up of 4,051 barangays spread in the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.
The town of Hamtic in Antique had the most number of villages (22) declared as cleared of drugs since January.
The other cleared barangays were in the following towns: Janiuay, Iloilo – 11; Libacao, Aklan – 15; Maasin, Iloilo – 8; Malinao, Aklan – 9; Mina, Iloilo – 15; Pulupandan, Negros Occidental – 15; and Tubungan, Iloilo – 16 .
Albano said the validations were rigid. “We could not easily declare a certain village free from illegal drugs,” she stressed.
The following criteria must be met:
* non-availability of illegal drugs
* absence of drug transshipment activity
* absence of clandestine drug laboratories
* absence of clandestine drug warehouses
* no marijuana cultivation
* no drug dens and drug users/pushers
* no drug protectors
* active participation of barangay officials and Sangguniang Kabataan in the anti-drug campaign
Achieving a drug-cleared status, however, is not enough, said Albano. The barangays must maintain such status.
“Should the barangay officials fail, they may be charged administratively,” said Albano.
BDCP-ROC is constantly monitoring the barangays./PN
