390 villages in Capiz drug-cleared

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – 390 or 82.45 percent of the 473 barangays in Capiz have been declared “drug cleared” by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Based on data released by the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), 16 of the 47 villages in Roxas City (27.65 percent) are “drug-free.”

PDEA deems a village as “drug cleared” if the following parameters are met: non-availability of illegal drugs, non-presence of drug dens, pushers, users, protectors or financers; no drug laboratories, warehouses, marijuana plantation, and no drug transit or transshipment activity.

Other factors are the active participation of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in anti-drug activities, the conduct of drug awareness, preventive education and information campaign; and voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk operations.

At present, 84 barangays in Capiz are being evaluated by the regional oversight committee before they are tagged as drug-cleared.