ILOILO City – The municipal government of Janiuay aims to make its barangays “drug-cleared” before the year ends, according to Mayor Jose de Paula.
“Siguro … this month, bag-o matapos ang 2018, maubos na ang amon barangays clear. Gina-una namon ang unaffected barangays,” de Paula said.
Janiuay has 60 barangays. Eleven of them were declared drug-cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug-Clearing Operation led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 6 in March.
It was only this August that the local government received the certification, said de Paula.
The 11 barangays were Santo Tomas, Tubu, Tambal, Sarawag, Locsin, Danao, Calmay, Carigangan, Caraudan, Monte Magapa, kag Dabong.
Currently their campaign against illegal drugs led by the police and the barangay officials is focused on 20 villages, de Paula said.
Barangay officials urge identified suspected drug users and dealers to turn themselves in and undergo rehabilitation, said the mayor.
According to de Paula, a total of 256 suspected drug users and dealers in Janiuay surrendered and underwent community-based rehabilitation under the Department of Health since the government imposed a tougher crackdown on drugs in 2016.
Under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3, series of 2017, a barangay may be declared drug-cleared only if it has satisfied the following parameters:
* non-availability of illegal drugs
* absence of illegal drug transshipment activity
* absence of clandestine illegal drug laboratory
* absence of clandestine illegal drug warehouse
* absence of clandestine illegal chemical warehouse
* absence of marijuana cultivation site
* absence of drug den
* absence of drug pushers
* absence of drug users/dependents
* absence of protectors/coddlers and financiers
Mina, a municipality next to Janiuay, remains to be the only town in the province so far this year whose barangays have been declared drug-cleared.
It comprises 22 villages, which the Regional Oversight Committee declared drug-cleared on June 19./PN
