27 more barangays in city officially ‘drug-cleared’

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Twenty-seven barangays in Iloilo City achieved the drug-cleared status from a regional oversight committee Tuesday.

Out of this number, 14 barangays are in City Proper district – Danao, Flores, Gloria, Hipodromo, Kahirupan, Kauswagan, Legaspi De La Rama, Magsaysay, Maria Clara, Ortiz, Osmeña, President Roxas, Rizal Ibarra, and Veterans Village.

In Jaro district, eight barangays achieved the drug-cleared status – Democracia, El 98 Castilla, Lopez Jaena, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, San Jose, San Roque, and Seminario.

Also included in the list of drug-cleared barangays in the city are Santa Rosa and Taft North in Mandurriao district; Mohon and Sta. Filomena in Arevolo district; and Libertad in Lapuz district.

Earlier, 34 barangays in the city were also declared drug-cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee chaired by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6.

The other member representatives of the committee are the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Local Government Units (LGUs).

The committee conducts validation on barangays that wish to achieve the drug-cleared status.

Based on the guidelines of the Dangerous Drugs Board, a drug-cleared barangay should have no illegal drugs supply; transit or transshipment activity; laboratory; clandestine chemical warehouse; marijuana cultivation site; drug den, dive or resort; drug pusher, user or dependent; drug protector, coddler or financier.

Aside from this, there should also be active barangay officials in anti-drug activities and awareness, involvement of Sangguniang Kabataan to maintain drug-free community; and preventive education and information programs among others.