64 more WV barangays declared drug cleared

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Sixty-four barangays in Western Visayas have hurdled the barangay drug-clearing deliberation process.

Ma. Graziella Tanaleon, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 (PDEA-6) spokesperson, said 137 barangays underwent deliberation by members of the Regional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs (ROCDD) on Sept 22, 2020.

The additional 64 villages successfully presented and defended their applications and folders in compliance with the parameters of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program mandated by Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3 series of 2017.

To date, Tanaleon said 3,162 out of the 4,051 barangays, or 79 percent, have already been cleared by the BDCP-ROC in Region 6.

Iloilo province has the most number of drug cleated barangays at 25, with 15 in Pototan town, four each in San Enrique and Tigbauan, and two in Sta. Barbara.

Capiz has 16 additional drug-cleared barangays. Seven are in Cuartero town, four in Pres. Roxas, two each in Mambusao and Panay, and one in Dumalag.

Antique has added three barangays two in San Jose and one in Tibiao.

Guimaras has two barangays from Buenavista town.

On the other hand, Aklan logged 12 drug-cleared barangays – six in Malay, three in New Washington, two in Banga, and one in Kalibo.

Iloilo City recorded six drug-cleared villages. Two each in the districts of Jaro and La Paz and one each in Arevalo and City Proper.

Several months ago, the PDEA-6 said the “new normal” was the main reason why Western Visayas’ drug-clearing initiatives have slowed down.

But as it braced to the new normal, the Barangay Drug Clearing Officers in different provinces have set the mode to increase the efforts to further considerably decrease the drug affectation in the region.

The BDCP teams have also discussed plans in the conduct of BDCP onsite validations and deliberations amidst different restrictions and rules of the different provinces in Western Visayas.