96.49% of Western Visayas Barangays Now Drug-Cleared

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 6 reported that 96.49 percent of barangays in Western Visayas have been declared drug-cleared.

The updated figure was presented during the 56th Regional Oversight Committee Meeting on the Barangay Drug Clearing Program held July 3, 2025, at Sam’s 21 Hotel in Iloilo City.

The increase was attributed to four additional barangays recently declared drug-cleared by the committee.

With the latest update, 3,270 out of the region’s 3,389 barangays are now drug-cleared, leaving 119 barangays, or 3.51 percent, for future deliberation.

Aklan, Antique, and Guimaras have maintained a 100 percent drug-cleared status, with 327, 590, and 98 barangays respectively.

Of the total, 1,963 barangays are categorized as drug-cleared, while 1,307 are classified as drug-free.

The committee confirmed that 230 previously declared drug-cleared barangays retained their status, while 11 were issued Certified Inventory of Drug Personalities (CIDP).

Meanwhile, Iloilo province maintains a 99.59 percent drug-cleared rate, followed by Capiz at 93.45 percent and Iloilo City at 52.78 percent.

The Regional Barangay Drug Clearing Program team includes representatives from PDEA-6, Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 6, Police Regional Office 6, and the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development.

Ma. Graziella Tanaleon, public information officer of PDEA-6, said the next deliberation is tentatively scheduled for September 2025.