GUIMARAS – Of this island province’s 98 barangays, only five remain to be cleared of illegal drugs as of Sept. 7.
These are barangays Rizal, Sto. Rosario and Zaldivar in the municipality of Buenavista and barangays San Miguel and Sta. Teresa in Jordan.
The 93 drug-cleared villages, on the other hand, are in the following towns:
* Jordan – Alaguisoc, Balcon Maravilla, Balcon Melliza, Bugnay, Buluangan, Espinosa, Hoskyn, and Lawi, Morobuan, Poblacion, Rizal, and Sinapsapan
* Buenavista – Agsanayan, Avila, Banban, Bacjao, Cansilayan, Dagsaan, Daragan, East Valencia, Getuli, Mabini, Magsaysay, McLain, Montpiller, Navalas, Nazaret, New Poblacion, Old Poblacion, Piña, Salvacion, San Fernando, San Isidro, San Miguel, San Nicolas, San Pedro, San Roque, Sawang, Supang, Tacay, Taminla, Tanag, Tastasan, Tinadtaran, and Umilig
* Sibunag – Alegria, Ayangan, Bubog, Concordia, Dasal, Inampulugan, Maabay, Millan, Oracon, Ravina, Sabang, San Isidro, Sebaste, and Tanglad
* San Lorenzo – Aguilar, Cabano, Cabungahan, Constancia, Gaban, Igcawayan, M. Chavez, San Enrique, Sapal, Sebario, Suclaran, and Tamborong
* Nueva Valencia – Cabalagnan, Calaya, Canhawan, Concordia Sur, Dolores, Guiwanon, Igang, Igdarapdap, La Paz, Lanipe, Lucmayan, Magamay, Napandong, Oracon Sur, Pandaraonan, Panobolon, Poblacion, Salvacion, San Antonio, San Roque, Santo Domingo, and Tando
To be declared as drug-free, a barangay must meet several parameters set by the regional oversight committee in the campaign against illegal drugs led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). These 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
On Sept. 7, Gov. Samuel Gumarin discussed with PDEA – Guimaras Provincial Officer Investigation Agent V Fatima Tuadles and other personnel of the agency the status of drug clearing operation sa Guimaras./PN
